BX  9225  .W235  D36  1837 
Danforth,  Joshua  N.  1798- 

1861. 
Memoir  of  William  C.  Walton 


MEMOIR 


WILLIAM   C.  WALTON 


rjf J^fh^cG^ 


MEMOIR 


WILLIAM  C.  WALTON, 


LATE    TASTOR    OF    THE 


SECOND  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 


IN  ALEXANDRIA,  D.  C. 


THE  FREE  CHURCH  IN  HARTFORD,  CONN. 

BY 

JOSHUA   N.'DANFORTH. 


"  I  ceased  not  to  warn  every  one  night  and  day  with  tears. " — Paul. 

"Virginia  gave  him  birth  ;    Columbia  a  home  ;    New  England  a  grave;    Heaven 

an  everlasting  rest." — Monumental  inscription. 


HARTFORD. 
DANIEL  BURGESS  AND  CO 

NEW   YORK. 

JOHN   S.    TAYLOR. 
1837. 


Entered 
according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1837,  by 

DANIEL    BURGESS    AND    CO. 

in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  Connecticut. 


Printed  by 
CASE,   TIFFANY  &  CO. 
Hartford,   Conn. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER   I. 

PAGE 

Walton's  birth— Character  of  his  father— Examples  set  him— Dancing— Sent 
to  School — Narrow  escapes — The  old  colored  woman — Anecdote — Banyan — 
Attends  family  prayer  for  the  first  time — Sent  to  school  ai  Moorefield — An  absurd 
maxim — A  singular  attack  of  illness — His  rapid  Improvement — Interposition  of 
Providenct — Enters  on  a  new  scene — In  the  mil  1st  of  a  host  of  temptations — Influ- 
ence of  female  society — Tiro  grace  of  God  preserves  him — Hears  his  first  sermon 
in  his  sixteenth  year— An  expedient  tor  improvement — Leaves  Frankfort  for  Win- 
chester. 13—34 

CHAPTER  II. 

His  first  convictions — He  Btifles  them— Guilt  and  tolly  of  Dancing— Plays  cards 
on  the  Sabbatll — Awakened  under  a  sermon  by  a  Methodist  preacher — The  points 

of  that  sermon — A  description  of  Ms  feelings — nis  distress  continues — Though 

without  submission — Reads  different  I ks — His  self-righteous  spirit — Rises  at 

night  and  prays — Anxiety  about  uniting  with  the  church — Reveals  his  feelings — 
Change  of  views — His  faith  confirmed — The  atonement — Severe  temptations — 
Sources  of  relief — A  characteristic  of  Pascal— Remark  of  Robert  Hall — His  desire 
for  the  ministry — Gives  up  all  for  it — Providence  interposes  and  meets  him — His 
timidity  in  early  life— His  decision  and  boldness  in  later  life— Personal  fidelity — 
Sent  to  Hampden  Sydney — Anecdote — The  misery  of  diffidence — Overcome  by 
grace — Being  dead,  he  yet  spcaketk.  25 — 39 

CHAPTER  III. 

His  youthful  diary— Difficulties  and  corruptions— Resolutions — Humiliation— 
Weakness — Desire  of  sanctification — Impressions  produced  by  an  earthquake— 
Boston's  fourfold  state— Scott's  treatise— Temptation  to  levity— His  sensitiveness 
—Strong  emotions— Fasting— Views  at  Sacrament— Conflicts— Triumphs— Tries 
to  do  good — Labors  abroad — Deliverance  in  answer  to  prayer — Indulgence  of 
appetite— Varion  s  emotions — Victory  over  the  flesh — Vanity — Cases  of  awaken- 
ing—Perseverance  in  prayer— Vanity  rebuked— Traits  of  character  developed— 
Summerfield— Narrow  escape  from  death— His  reflections  on  the  event— A  death- 
bed scene.  40—58 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Danger  of  worldly  influences— Wickedness  of  trifling  with  the  feelings  of  either 
sex — Confession  of  a  Jesuit— A  word  to  candidates  for  the  sacred  office — What  a 
minister  should,  and  should  not  be — Licensed  to  preach — Payson's  remark — New 
Year's  reflections— First  essay  at  preaching— Character  of  apostolic  preaching- 
Letter  to  Dr.  Hill— His  mind  diverted— Letter  to  a  friend  in  atlliction— Extracts 
from  his  diary— Letter  to  a  friend  — Letter  to  his  mother— Attack  of  illness — Its 
effect— His  engagement  to  Miss  Muse— Extract  of  a  letter  from  a  friend— Anec- 
dote— Work  of  the  ministry.  59 73 


VI  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  V. 

PAGE 

Thoughts  of  future  settlement— Fondness  for  retirement — Ordination — Installa 
tion — III  -prepared  sermons — Purchases  ■  bouse  in  Winchester — Embarrassments 

—Relieved — Another  escape— Slckneaa — Founded f  in.-  bope — Removes  to  his 

faun — Ruptures  a  blood  vessel — A  professor  awaken  ,1 — Another  case — Opening 
of  the  year — Invitation  to  Washington — Depression  of  spirits — Life  of  Scott  ami 
Pilgrim's  Progress,  79—89 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Invitation  from  Baltimore — Visits  that  city — Plate  of  the  ronzregation — Great 
lOBl  Ol  property — Prayer  answered — Arrives  in    Baltimore — Subject  of  baptism — 

Healtb  impaired— Advantage  of  trials— Payson'sdistresa — Biaguhu  remark — The 
daw  d  of  light — Importance  of  exertion — Effort  anions  the  young — Preaches  on 
the  subject  Of  a  revival — Attacked  with  bleeding  atthe  lOOgS — Solemn  retlections 
at  church — Visit  to  Virginia— State  of  mind — Excellent  effects  of  parochial  vis- 
itation— Nothing  can  be  substituted  for  it — llervey's  dying  confession — l'lie  case 
of  a  reprobate — Stubborn  sinners — Lost  sinnera — Twenty-two  families  visited — 
The  fugitive — Awakened  sinners — Mr.  Nettleton's  views — Remark  of  Wbitefield 
— Walton's  Narrative  of  the  revival — Singular  case  of  conviction — Admissions 
to  the  church — Description  of  exercises— Continuation  of  experience — A  ni  w  way 
of  keeping  Christmas — Two  interesting  cases  of  conviction — Trials — Threatened 
with  .1  prosecution — Contention  of  Church  members — Remarkable  case  of  an  old 
titan  who  was  converted— The  means  of  bis  conversion — A  backslider  In  distress. 

90—117 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Celebration  of  the  New  Year — Reflections  and  resolutions — Difficulties  in  the 
congregation — His  efforts  to  restore  peace  and  harmony — Power  of  conscience — 
Visit  to  Winchester— Successful  labors  there — The  case  of  the  hostler — Letter 
from  Dr.  B«  cher — The  claims  of  God  on  the  -inner — Plan  of  a  manual  labor  Sem- 
inary— Threatened  with  a  flogging— Faithful  In  discipline — Leaves  Baltimore — 
Ani.  e  iii  Cbarlestown,  Virginia— Attacked  with  diseasi — Surgical  operation- 
Conversions— Renewal  of  covenant— Formation  of  an  Education  Society — Sin- 
gular Instance  of  the  effect  of  his  preaching — Different  kinds  of  preaching — Char- 
acter of  the  ministry  in  the  Coiled  Slates— Times  of  trial  would  develope  it— The 
minister  who  preached  the  truth  to  Gen.  Jackson  and  Mr.  Van  Buren— Henry 
Mil.  and  Hugh  Latimer.  118—136 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Walton  in  affliction— Oberlin's  illustration— Sickness  of  bis  daughter— HeC 
death— Its  effect — Am  cdott  —  Estimate  of  its  influence — How  shall  ministers  com- 
fort others— Letter— Sketch  of  Margaret  Ann— How  she  was  taught— Hannah, 
the  colored  woman — The  politician  reproved — The  closing  seme— Addison's 
remark — Expressions  of  the  dying  zirl— Reasonableness  of  early  piety — A  soul- 
Btining  thought— The  daughter  and  the  sou  compared — Installation  at  Chailcs- 
town — Power  of  conscience — Syuodical  fast — Various  endeavors  to  do  good  to 
himself  and  others.  137—148 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Benefits  of  prayer — Growing  In  grace — Crows  la  ministerial  power — Antidote 
to  mi  lain  oolv — Solicitude  fort!  cause  of  Christ — Conversion  of  a  youth — Jour- 
ney to  thp  norm— Memoir  of  Margaret  Ann — Repeated  editions  of  his  Narrative — 


CONTENTS.  Vll 

PAGE 

Oberlin— Elliot— Abundant  labors — Wearing  nut  and  re  line  OUt— The  self-sacri- 
ficing  preachers — Delightful  views  In  sickness— Depressed,  btfl  laborious— Trials 
from  Che  wicked— Anecdote  of  John  Howe— Tim  Princeton  student—  Visit  to 
Leeeburg — Importance  of  a  change  of  location — Call  from  Alexandria— Reasons 
for  his  acceptance  of  the  call — installation  at  Alexandria— Active  labors — Visits 
and  admissions — Sources  of  encouragement — Expansion  of  his  mind  and  heart — 
Revolution  in  Dr.  Ryland's  sentiments— Success  of  his  sermons— Doctrines 
preached — Martin  Bos'  opinion  of  what  are  the  best  sermons— H is  devotion  to 
his  work— What  degrades  a  clergyman.  149 — 169 

CHAPTER  X. 

Increasing  interest  in  Alexandria — Experience  of  a  young  convert — Results  of 
an  infidel's  proposal — A  congregation  founded— New  cases  of  conviction — Ser- 
mon on  the  Divine  Sovereignty — Blessing  on  various  meetings— Attacked  with 
cerebral  nervousness — Blessedness  ofthe  work — Interchange  between  the  congre- 
gations— Early  prayer — A  young  Catholic — The  work  extends  to  Washington — 
Necessity  of  a  holy  influence  there — Called  to  similar  meetings  in  Baltimore — 
Letter  descriptive  of  his  feelings — Letter  from  a  convert — A  plan  for  saving  a  soul 
— Result  ofthe  endeavor.  170 — 18C 

CHAPTER   XI. 

Bishop  Hooper — Remark  of  Addison — Writes  theological  treatises — Where  at 
home — Death-bed  of  a  Christian — Work  on  Divine  Sovereignty — Journey  to  the 
North — Sickness  at  Hartford — Visits  old  Point  Comfort — Extracts  from  corres- 
pondence— Letter  to  Dr.  Hill — From  Dr.  Rice — Letter  from  l)r  Speece — From 
Rev.  II.  F.  Binder — State  of  religion  in  England— Letter  to  his  Nephew — Inter- 
esting scene  at  Occoquan — His  diligent  labors— Reminiscences  of  a  revival — The 
convicted  family — The  converted  family — A  hardened  sinner  arrested.  IrfT — 203 

CHAPTER  XII. 

Walton  visits  Occoquan — Opposition — Visit  to  Virginia — Death  of  his  mother- 
in-law — Answer  to  prayer — His  love  for  the  pulpit — Physical  exhaustion — Faint, 
yet  pursuing — Letter  to  a  ministerial  brother — The  Protestant— Another  visit  to 
Occoquan — Second  vi>it  to  Fredericksbunr — Curious  dream — New  temptations — 
Employment  ofthe  clergy — Preaching  to  the  conscience — Appointed  delegate  to 
t,  ■  Synod  ofVirginn  -Pi  aches  before  the  Synod — Views  ofthe  Synod — Effects 
of  ins  labors — Prate  .a:  admonitions — A  liberal  present — Further special  efforts — 
His  habits  of  prayi  —Lei  <  is  Nephew — Applications  from  abroad — Reproof 
— Misapprehension  of  the  valu<  of  his  own  sermons — Feelings  of  a  minister's 
wife — The  simplicity  of  his  ideas  nd  languagt — Revival  in  Washington — Invited 
abroad— Work  in  Alexandria — Adjustment  of  texts.  -04 — 223 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

A  call  from  the  South — His  consideration  ofil  —Revival  at  Georgetown — Death 
of  young  converts — Assists  the  Methodists — I  -  unwearied  labors,  and  the  great 
blessing  on  them — Journey  homewards — Hin  a  on  the  work  of  tl.  -  Spirit — Let- 
ter from  Dr.  Burder — Visit  to  Richmo  id— P  yerof  Faith— His  mental  anxieties 
and  agonies — Treatise  on  Intercessory  Prayer — Desires  another  field  of  labor — 
Invitation  from  Hartford — Reflections  on  it — Reasons  for  accepting  it — Letter  to 
tht  Free  Church — His  relation  to  his  people — Their  demeanor  \t  its  dissolution — 


Mil  CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

Letter  (a  H.  P.  Border — Protracted  meetings — New  measure?  and  old  mearara — 

Distinction  between  human  and  du  me  agenc] .  224 — 242 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

Arrival  at  Hartford— An  appalling  discovery— Effect  of  the  truth — A  protracted 
meeting — Its  solemn  effects — Publishes  a  pamphlet — Accoont  of  the  revival — 
Reasons  for  assembling  the  anxious — Results  and  characteristics  of  the  work — 
The  power  of  prayer— Heart  searcbings  and  confessions — Whole  families  con- 
verted— incidental  remarks — importance  of  union  among  ministers — The  laal 
article  from  his  pen — The  last  funeral  sermon — Letter  to  his  Sister — Progress  of 
his  disease — Happy  state  of  his  church — His  last  letter — Its  conclusion.  243 — 2G2 

CHAPTER   XV. 

The  closing  scene — John  Janeway— Thomas  Halyburton — A  sudden  crisis  in 
his  disease — The  first  sensations  of  a  christian  on  entering  Heaven — Various 
dying  expressions— Increasing  and  triumphant  exultation — 1 1  is  dying  views  of  the 
ministry — Pear  of  impatienci — Bongs  of  praise — His  faith  in  God  concerning  his 
family — The  shout  of  victory — Message  to  his  brethren— What  it  is  to  die — Prayer 
for  the  divine  iilory — Asks  that  his   last  sermon   might   be  read   to  him — His  last 

prayer  answered— lie  dies— His  burial— His  monument — Elegy  by  Mrs.  Sigour- 
ney — Letters  of  condolence — From  Rev.  .1.  Parker— From  Rev.  Daniel  Raker.  203 — 231 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

The  varieties  of  the  human  mind — Distinguishing  characteristics — Who  are  the 
most  useful  ministers — What  kind  of  minsters  we  want  in  the  United  States — 

Mental  character  of  Walton — Change  in  his  views — The  secrets  of  hi-  SUCCt 

Causing  others  to  work— How  Christians  should  pray— Courteousness  of  manner 
and  correctness  of  language — Letter  to  the  Princeton  Bociety  of  Inquiry — 
Remarks  on  the  tirst  revival  he  witnessed— On  the  revival  in  Alexandria — Way 
of  conducting  meetings — Importance  of  concentrated  effort — Mode  of  presenting 
tie- truth — Necessity  of  having  a  direct  aim — Effect  of  anxious  seats — Farther 

remarks  on  them — Protracted  met  linns — General  character  of  revivals — Charac- 
ter of  the  converts — Terms  of  admission — Letter  of  Mr.  Patterson — Study  o* 
mathematics— Sources  of  sacred  eloquence — Why  some  great  preachers  were 
eloquent — Walton's  hospitality— Dying  request  of  Dr.  Hyde — Dr.  Nevins — Arch- 
bishop Usher — Cotton  Mather's  unintelligibles  and  incurables — Bllence  about 
his  trials — The  conclusion  of  a  pious  and  devoted  lile — Thomas  Halyburton — 
Concluding  remark.  282—313 

Appendix.  311— 31(j 


PRELIMINARY    REMARKS 


When  the  papers  of  my  revered  brother  Walton  were 
placed  in  the  hands  of  the  author  by  his  bereaved  widow, 
with  the  request  on  her  part  and  on  the  part  of  many  friends, 
that  a  suitable  memoir  should  be  prepared,  I  did  not  feel  at 
liberty  to  decline  the  solicitation,  because  I  have  ever  main- 
tained that  such  examples  ought  to  be  preserved,  perpetuated 
and  held  up,  to  excite  the  church  and  the  ministry  to  nobler 
attainments  in  their  divine  calling.  If  the  celebrated  re- 
mark be  true,  that  he  who  causes  two  spires  of  grass  to  grow 
where  one  grew  before,  be  a  public  benefactor,  what  must  be 
the  amount  of  his  beneficence,  who  has  been  the  means  of 
transforming  an  enemy  into  a  friend  of  God !  And  what 
the  measure  of  that  good  which  he  has  done,  who  has  so 
labored  and  prayed,  as  not  only  to  save  his  own  soul,  but  the 
souls  of  hundreds  of  his  fellow  creatures  ? 

Such  a  one  was  the  subject  of  the  following  sketch.  I 
have  not  sought  a  man  of  mighty  genius  or  brilliant  fame 
with  the  view  to  captivate  admiring  readers.     I  have  gone 


10  run,  I  MIX  Alt  Y     REMARKS. 

higher,  and  Bhall  ask  th(  reader  to  ascend  with  me,  where 
he  can  contemplate  "  the  highest  style  of  man;"  where  he 
may  view  what  dignity  can  invest  the  Christian  here,  and 
what  glory  is  in  reserve  for  him  hereafter;  where  he  may 
receive  another  proof  of  the  fact,  that  greal  talents  are  not 
Qtial  to  greal  usefulness  in  the  cause  of  God;  but  that 
grace  in  the  heart,  in  the  life,  and  in  the  labors  of  an  hum- 
ble man  can  achieve  triumphs,  which  shall  outlive  all  earth- 
ly greatness,  and  co-exist  with  the  annals  of  eternity. 

To  estimate  justly  the  character  of  Mr.  Walton  and  the 
value  of  his  example,   a   full   view  of  his  career  must  be 
taken,  and  especially  must  the  last  ten  years  of  his  Hie  be 
compared  or   rather  contrasted  with   its  previous  portion. 
Of  that  portion  he  might  truly  say  :  '  When  1  was  a  child, 
I  spake   as  a  child,   I   understood   as   a   child,  I   thought 
as    a    child;     but    when    I    became    a    man,    1    put    away 
childish    things.'      It  was  GRACE  that   imparted   this  noble 
and  vigorous  manhood,  which,  as  in  multitudes  of  similar 
cases,  In  its  very  meridian  ceased  its  relation  to  this  world. 
But  the  good  which  holy  men  do  expires  not  with  their 
frail  bodies,  nor  is  it  "  interred  "  with  them  in  their  sepul- 
chres.    It  survives  and  shines;   it  stimulates  and  reproves; 
it  speaks  with  a  silent  eloquence,  that  defies  the  power  of 
time,  the  sovereignty  of  death,   and  the  dominion  of  the 

grave. 

Of  the  abundant  manuscripts  of  Mr.  Walton,  a  compara- 
tively sparing  use  has  been  made  in  the  following  pages,  as 
it  does  not  seem  proper  to  load  a  book  with  mere  diary, 
any  further  than  may  serve  to  convey  a  full  and  correct 
apprehension  of  the  main  points  of  the  public  and  private 
history  of  the  writer.     To   all   the  views  and  sentiments 


P  R  K  L  I  M  I  IV  A  R  Y      REMARKS.  11 

advanced  in  the  extracts]  shall  not  of  course;  ho  considered 
as  necessarily  subscribing.  I  simply  seek  to  convey  the 
truth  in  regard  to  him  of  whom  I  write. 

The  author  offers  no  apology  to  the  public  founded  on 
the  "  pressure  of  pastoral  cares  and  other  avocations,"  for 
he  does  not  consider  such  an  apology  either  respectful  to 
the  public  or  a  sufficient  excuse  for  him  who  offers  it.  If  a 
man  essays  to  bring  a  subject  or  a  character  before  the  pub- 
lic, he  should  devote  to  that  subject  or  character,  his  best 
hours  and  his  best  efforts.  More  than  this  the  reader  should 
not  ask.  Less  than  this  the  writer  should  not  be  satisfied 
to  render.  The  author's  work  as  a  Pastor  and  a  Preacher 
is  indeed  laborious,  but  the  preparation  of  this  book  has 
rather  aided  than  obstructed  him  in  the  prosecution  of 
those  labors.  If  the  study  of  it  shall  assist  any  beloved 
ministerial  brother  in  7iis  work,  or  minister  consolation 
in  his  trials,  one  object  will  be  attained. 

It  only  remains  to  add  a  simple  dedication  of  this  book 


MINISTRY    OF    RECONCILIATION, 


AND     TO     THE 


CHURCH    OF    GOD 


Lee,  Mass.,  May,  1837. 


CHAPTER     I . 


"  Read  good  books,"  said  the  meek  and  pious  Matthew 
Henry,  "  especially  serious,  useful  history,  as  that  of  the 
lives  of  holy  men."  Of  the  appositeness  of  the  advice,  his 
own  life  is  a  beautiful  exemplification. 

History  and  Biography,  though  intimately  related,  may 
be  strongly  contrasted.  If  History  be  philosophy  teaching 
by  example,  Biography  is  example  teaching  the  best  phi- 
losophy. 

History  may  be  compared  to  the  ocean,  vast  in  extent, 
and  capacious  as  the  repository  of  all  manner  of  things. 
Biography  is  like  the  stream,  that  springing  from  some 
obscure  origin,  gathers  breadth  and  power  as  it  advances, 
and  after  fertilizing  the  region  of  its  passage,  flows  into  and 
becomes  a  part  of  the  ocean.  So  History  is  but  a  collection 
of  the  individualities  of  men.  It  would  be  nothing  without 
personal  living  agencies.  It  is  Biography  amplified,  multi- 
plied, and  set  in  a  thousand  lights,  the  mutual  reflection  of 
which  serves  to  instruct  the  living  by  the  example  of  the 
dead.  Biography,  then,  has  this  advantage — that  it  selects 
an  individual,  and  by  tracing  his  single  career  in  all  its 
varieties,  assists  the  mind  to  receive  a  more  definite  and 
durable  impression,  than  it  would  receive  from  contempla- 
ting a  great  mass  of  events,  in  which  a  hundred  different 
actors  have  mingled.  To  define  the  course  of  a  river  is 
comparatively  easy.  To  describe  the  ocean — who  will 
attempt  it? 


14  MEMOIR     OF 


Walton's  birth. 


On  such  a  subject  the  Spirit  of  truth,  who  is  the  Author 
of  the  Bible,  is  our  wisest  and  safest  Guide.  In  that  Book, 
which  embraces  all  that  is  sublime  and  impressive  in 
general  History,  as  well  as  instructive  and  touching  in 
Biography,  there  is  but  One  Principal  Personage.  Around 
this  Illustrious  Being  all  subordinate  persons,  all  things 
past  or  prospective,  do  but  gather  in  their  humble  places. 
From  Him  they  derive  all  the  interest  they  possess.  With- 
out Him,  they  are  nothing. 

Though  the  Book  of  Revelation  is  complete,  like  that  of 
Nature,  and  none  may  add  to  or  take  from  it,  but  in  peril 
of  the  plagues  of  the  second  death,  the  Book  of  Provi- 
dence is  still  unfinished.  It  has  been  the  pleasant  task  of 
the  author  to  copy  herewith  a  chapter  for  that  instructive 
volume,  from  the  experience  and  labors  of  one  of  God's 
children,  and  Christ's  ministers;  "  a  good  man,  and  full  of 
the  Holy  Ghost  and  of  faith,"  which  is  the  highest  encomi- 
um Inspiration  itself  can  pronounce. 

To  receive  benefit  from  such  a  work,  the  first  requisite  is 
an  humble  heart.  Let  the  reader,  therefore,  now  lay  aside 
the  book  for  a  moment,  and  pray  for  this  inestimable  bles- 
sing. It  will  avail  him  more  than  the  most  profound  learn- 
ing, and  the  most  accomplished  powers  of  criticism. 


William  Claiborne  Walton,  was  born  in  Hanover 
County,  Virginia,  on  the  4th  day  of  Nov.  1793.  He  was  the 
only  child  of  his  father,  who  married  his  mother,  when  a 
widow  with  seven  children.     They  resided  on  a  farm  about 


WILLIAM     C.     WALTON.  15 

Character  of  his  Father. 

thirty-two  miles  from  the  city  of  Richmond.  His  father 
was  by  profession  a  blacksmith,  and  it  would  seem,  added 
to  this  profession  the  occupation  of  a  tavern  keeper,  a  busi- 
ness by  no  means  favorable  either  for  the  education  of  the 
mind,  the  advancement  of  the  morals,  or  the  promotion  of 
the  happiness  of  a  beloved  child.  If  the  fatal  influence 
produced  by  this  occupation  on  the  habits  of  the  father,  did 
not  reach  the  son,  it  is  to  be  ascribed  to  the  interposing 
and  restraining  grace  of  that  God,  who  designed  him  as  an 
instrument  of  great  and  lasting  good  to  His  Church. 
Placed,  as  he  was,  in  the  very  bud  and  bloom  of  life  within 
the  circle  of  the  most  pernicious  influences,  a  secret,  invisi- 
ble power  protected  the  tender  youth  from  the  snares  of  the 
destroyer.  In  consequence  of  the  perplexed  state  of  his 
affairs,  his  father  in  the  spring  of  1805,  removed  to  Hardy 
County,  near  Moorefield,  in  the  same  state.  William  was 
then  a  little  more  than  twelve  years  old.  This  removal, 
though  it  did  not  improve  the  condition  of  the  father,  seems 
to  have  been  ordered  in  Providence  for  the  good  of  the  son. 
Mr.  Walton  went  down  to  the  grave  in  about  a  year,  dying 
at  the  early  age  of  38.  He  is  represented  to  have  been  a 
man  of  uncommon  mind,  and  with  slender  advantages,  to 
have  once  gained  a  very  respectable  position  in  society. 
But  the  pestilence  swept  over  him,  and  he  was  soon  a 
prostrate  victim ;  his  intellect  extinguished,  his  affections 
blighted,  and  his  hopes  clouded  for  time  and  eternity.  "  It 
is  a  mournful  history,"  said  his  pious  son,  "  but  it  may  be 
salutary  to  some,  who  may  read  it."  Thus  much  was  due 
to  strict  justice  and  fidelity.  If  Walton  was  not  among 
those  who  enjoyed  the  inheritance  of  faithful  instruction 
and  pious  example,  it  renders  the  grace  of  God  more  signal, 
and  his  subsequent  usefulness  more  striking. 

Not  only  parental  example,  but  every  other  example  with 
which  he  came  in  contact,  was  of  the  most  corrupting 
character.  The  common  language  to  which  his  ear  was 
accustomed  was  that  of  profane  songs,  vulgar  jests,  and 


10  MEMOIR     OF 


Examples  set  him.  Dancing.  Sent  to  School.  Narrow  Lscapes. 

low  ribaldry.     Nor   was   the   effect  of  these  counteracted 
cither  by  precept  or  example  of  an  opposite  character. 


No  mother's  tender  ran: 


Shielded  bis  Infant  Innocence  with  prayer." 

It  is  true  his  father  taught  him  it  was  a  wicked  thing  to 
swear,  and  threatened  chastisement,  if  he  heard  an  oath 
from  his  lips,  but  never  found  occasion  to  inflict  it,  as  even 
this  BCanty  and  wretched  instruction  seemed  to  have  the 
desired  effect.  But  the  community  was  vicious  and  demor- 
alizing. Barbecues,  hunting,  dancing,  racing,  drinking 
and  gambling  occupied  much  of  the  time  of  the  people, 
and  constituted  their  chief  source  of  enjoyment.  William 
was  taught  at  six  years  of  age  to  dance  with  great  agility, 
and  entered  fully  into  the  spirit  of  other  amusements. 
Strange  that  parents  should  ever  think  their  children  were 
made  to  be  amused  with  such  follies,  at  an  age  when  the 
docile  and  impressible  mind  should  be  instructed  and 
trained  for  eternity. 

While  in  Hanover,  he  was  sent  to  several  common 
schools  in  succession,  where  he  learned  reading,  writing, 
and  the  principles  of  Arithmetic.  Both  at  home  and  abroad 
he  was  much  caressed,  and  frequently  received  little  presents 
from  gentlemen,  who  were  attracted  by  his  appearance,  and 
pleased  with  the  sprightliness  of  his  mind.  There  was 
something  in  his  conversation  above  his  years,  so  much  so 
as  to  make  quite  an  impression  on  the  mind  of  a  boy  older 
than  himself,  who  expressed  his  surprise  that  he  could  "  talk 
so  good." 

Like  most  other  children  of  God,  he  had  reason  to 
record  with  gratitude  the  providential  preservation  of  his 
life  in  a  number  of  instances.  On  one  occasion,  by  a  very 
marked  interposition  of  the  good  Providence  of  God,  at 
the  moment  of  making  a  false  step  near  the  open  door  of 
the  second  story  of  a  building,  instead  of  falling  headlong 
to  the  earth,  and  being  instantly  killed,  or  maimed  for  life, 


WILLIAM     C.     WALTON.  17 

The  old  colored  woman.  Anecdote. 

his  feet  struck  the  rounds  of  a  ladder,  to  which,  by  clinging 
also  with  his  hands,  he  was  mercifully  preserved.  On 
another  occasion,  he  endeavored  to  provoke  that  nohle, 
but  sometimes  fierce  animal,  the  horse,  to  make  use  of  his 
natural  weapons  of  defence,  and  narrowly  escaped  a  severe 
if  not  a  fatal  kick.  And  thus  he  could  speak  of  his  child- 
hood as  "  in  perils  oft,"  but  there  was  One,  who  had  given 
"  His  angels  charge  concerning  him,  to  bear  him  up,  lest 
at  any  time  he  should  dash  his  foot  against  a  stone." 

"  The  only  religious  instruction,"  says  Walton  in  a  paper 
found  among  his  manuscripts,  "  I  received,  was  from  an  old 
negro  woman  belonging  to  the  family,  who  professed  to  be 
a  Christian,  but  who  probably  was  mistaken ;  for  she  was 
very  inconsistent.  I  would  however  hope  she  was  sincere, 
though  extremely  ignorant.  I  remember  hearing  her,  and  a 
little  daughter  of  her's,  who  nursed  me,  sometimes  talk  of 
Heaven  and  Hell,  and  the  day  of  Judgment,  and  I  remem- 
ber sometimes  at  the  close  of  the  day,  while  looking  towards 
the  west,  I  have  felt  very  solemn  in  thinking  of  the 
world's  coming  to  an  end."  How  serious  and  profitable  a 
train  of  thought  may  often  be  originated  in  the  mind  by  the 
utterance  of  words  that  seem  purely  accidental !  *  How 
much  more  reasonable  to  expect  an  actual  blessing  to  follow 
words  uttered  with  the  design  to  awaken  the  mind  or  convict 
the  conscience,  even  if  not  directly  addressed  to  the  person 
into  whose  company  you  have  fallen.  There  is  as  much 
practical  wisdom  as  preceptive  beauty  in  the  apostolical 
exhortation,  "  Let  your  speech  be  always  with  grace, 
seasoned  with  salt." 

A  young  man  was  once  at  work  in  the  field,  when  Mr. 
,   a  clergyman,  crossing  the  field,  passed  near  him, 


*  Dr.  Ryland,  of  Bristol,  when  13  years  of  age,  discovering  that  his  father's  scholars 
met  to  talk  about  Jesus  Christ,  was  seriously  affected,  and  thought  within  himself, 
"  these  boys  are  going  to  heaven,  and  I  shall  be  left  behind."  He  began  to  pray  earn- 
estly, and  was  soon  converted — in  his  fifteenth  year  he  united  with  the  Church,  and 
at  18  preached. 

2* 


18  MEMOIR     OF 


Banyan.  Attends  family  prayer  for  the  first  tuns. 

and  dropped  a  few  words  of  admonition  in  his  ear.  A 
di>  ine  influence  sent  them  to  his  heart,  lie  was  awakened, 
convicted,  converted,  and  in  a  few  weeks  died  in  the 
triumphs  of  the  Christian  Faith.  It  was  in  consequence  of 
the  faithfulness  of  Bunyan's  wife,  that,  in  the  very  hour  of 
his  most  profound  immersion  in  scenes  of  consummate 
profligacy,  Conscience  would  cry  out,  "  Wilt  thou  leave  thy 
sins  and  go  to  Heaven,  or  have  thy  sins  and  go  to  Hell?" 
Even  the  random  reproof  of  a  wicked  woman,  who  told 
him  that  "  by  his  swearing  he  would  corrupt  all  the  youth 
of  the  town,  that  came  into  his  company,"  was  as  a  poisoned 
shaft  within  him,  stinging  him  with  shame  and  remorse. 

About  the  time  of  which  we  have  been  speaking,  an 
Uncle  of  Walton,  a  professing  Christian,  residing  in  Louisa 
County,  Virginia,  in  journeying  to  the  vicinity  of  Rich- 
mond, stopped  and  spent  a  night  in  the  family.  Before 
retiring  to  rest,  at  his  instance,  the  family  were  assembled 
for  the  purpose  of  worshipping  God.  The  pious  Uncle 
sano-  and  prayed.  This  was  the  first  time  William  Walton, 
then  seventeen  years  of  age,  ever  attended  family  worship. 
The  very  novelty  of  the  thing  made  some  impression  on  his 
mind,  but  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  as  a  holy  exercise, 
recognizing  the  government  of  God  and  the  mediation  of 
Jesus  Christ,  it  was  by  the  divine  blessing  productive  of 
spiritual  effects  on  a  mind,  nrcdisposed  to  serious  and 
anxious  thought.  On  the  return  of  this  Uncle,  a  proposal 
was  made  that  William  should  accompany  him  to  his  home, 
and  spend  some  time  with  him,  but  it  was  never  carried 
into  execution.  A  casual  expression  of  the  old  colored 
woman  at  that  time  also  affected  him  ;  she  suggesting  as  a 
reason  why  he  should  go,  that  "  he  would  perhaps  become  a 
Christian,"  not  seeming  to  think  it  possible  such  a  thing 
should  take  place  at  home.  The  failure  of  this  visit  was  a 
great  disappointment  to  William. 

After  the  removal  of  the  family  to  the  vicinity  of  Moore- 
field,  he  was  sent  to   a  very  indifferent  school,   where  he 


WILLIAM     C.     WALTON.  19 

Sent  lo  School  at  Moorefleld.      An  absurd  maxim.      A  singular  attack  of  [linen. 

heard  much  low,  indecent,  and  profane  language.  His 
resolution  however  being  fixed  to  resist  these  abominations, 
and  if  possible  to  gain  the  confidence  and  the  affection  of  his 
'Teacher ;  he  succeeded  in  both  these  objects,  became  a 
favorite  with  tbe  Instructor,  and  a  standing  reproof  to  the 
ill  mannered  and  evil  minded  with  whom  he  was  sometimes 
compelled  to  associate.  It  should  be  recorded  to  the  credit 
of  his  moral  character,  and  as  a  reminiscence  of  his  good 
moral  behavior,  in  the  giddy  and  dangerous  season  of  child- 
hood and  youth,  that  neither  from  parent,  teacher,  nor  any 
one  else  did  he  ever  receive  corporeal  punishment. 

It  is  far,  very  far  from  being  the  fact,  that,  as  a  general 
result,  the  "  worst  boys  make  the  best  men."  A  few  striking 
instances  of  entire  revolution  in  moral  character  out  of  a 
multitude  of  the  opposite  description,  seem  to  have  led  to 
this  hasty  conclusion.  The  notion,  for  such  only  it  deserves 
to  be  called,  resembles  that,  which  in  the  fashionable  world 
Once  grew  into  a  maxim,  that  "  reformed  rakes  make  the 
best  husbands."  It  is  a  notion  equally  at  variance  with  the 
manifest  tenor,  and  the  fundamental  principles  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures.  If  there  be  any  general  principles  revealed  in 
the  Bible,  it  is  not  one  of  the  least  of  these,  that  the  moral 
character  of  an  individual  is  for  the  most  part  formed  in  the 
early  period  of  his  existence.  This  position  is  confirmed 
equally  by  the  analogy  of  nature  and  by  individual  history. 

During  the  first  summer  of  Walton's  residence  at  this 
place,  he  was  attacked  with  a  severe  illness,  from  which 
there  was  at  the  time  little  expectation  of  his  recovery. 
For  some  days  he  lay  in  a  state  of  insensibility,  being 
nearly  unconscious  of  what  was  going  on  around  him. 
Being  destitute  of  the  aid  of  a  physician,  it  seemed  as  if 
the  hand  of  God  was  immediately  stretched  out  to  impart 
efficiency  to  the  unaided  efforts  of  nature  to  recover  the 
expiring  energies  of  the  system.  As  the  process  of  recovery 
commenced,  it  seemed  to  him  like  life  from  the  dead.  He 
was  raised  indeed,  but  with  enfeebled  health,  and  without 


20  MEMOIR     OP 


Mis  m|iiil  Improvement. 


the  enjoyment  of  that  vigor  of  body  and  that  elasticity  of 
spirits,  which  indicate  a  thorough  exemption  from  disease. 

Again  he  applied  himself  to  the  acquisition  of  knowledge, 
and  with  such  steadiness  of  purpose  and  correctness  of 
deportment,  that  his  new  Teacher  became  much  attached 
to  him,  an  attachment  readily  and  cordially  reciprocated  by 
his  pupil.  While  the  scholar  was  apt  to  learn,  the  master 
was  diligent  to  teach.  The  partiality  resulting  from  this 
relation  led  the  teacher  to  distinguish  William  in  the  distri- 
bution of  honors.  At  the  public  exhibition,  he  delivered 
no  less  than  four  speeches,  while  few  of  the  boys  had  more 
than  one,  and  none  more  than  two.  It  was  while  he  was 
committing  these  speeches,  that  he  first  discovered  the 
readiness  of  his  memory.  They  were  easily  and  speedily 
learned.  With  this  Teacher  he  continued  till  he  could 
instruct  him  no  more.  Besides  the  usual  English  studies, 
he  had  gone  through  a  course  of  mathematics  even  to 
some  of  its  higher  branches.  A  taste  for  vocal  music  had 
also  been  elicited.  The  teacher  gave  to  each  scholar  a 
tune,  to  be  learned,  raised  and  sung  by  him  independently 
of  the  rest.  When  any  particular  tune  pleased  the  fancy  of 
William,  on  his  passage  to  and  from  school  he  would  make 
the  woods  and  fields  re-echo  with  its  notes. 

But  these  sober  pursuits  were  occasionally  diversified  by 
his  attendance  on  a  dancing  school  held  in  the  neighbor- 
hood, the  amusement  of  which  proved  an  effectual  antidote 
to  any  pains  of  conscience,  which  might  remind  him  that 
he  was  a  lost  sinner.  The  time  had  come  however,  when 
he  must  do  something.  He  had  reached  a  point  in  his  life, 
when  a  very  small  circumstance  might  determine  its  future 
character  and  final  issue  ;  when  the  decision  of  the  present 
hour  might  give  a  coloring  to  his  whole  life.  He  had  no 
father,  either  to  provide  him  a  situation,  or  to  counsel  him 
in  his  own  plans  for  obtaining  one.  His  mother  was  a 
perfect  stranger  in  a  strange  community.  Who  was  there 
to  take  care  of  him  but  the  God  of  the  fatherless  and  the 


WILLIAM     C.     WALTON".  21 

Interposition  of  Providence.  Enters  on  m  new  scene. 

widow?  The  finger  of  the  Lord  pointed  out  the  path  in 
which  lie  should  walk,  as  follows  :  A  gentleman  from 
Frankfort,  in  Hampshire  County,  having  heard  that  Mrs. 
Walton  desired  to  dispose  of  some  property,  came  to  see 
her  on  that  business.  To  this  stranger,  young  William 
ventured  to  show  his  manuscript  books,  in  which,  according 
to  the  custom  of  the  schools,  he  had  kept  a  neat  transcript 
of  all  that  he  had  done  in  Arithmetic,  and  the  other 
branches  of  study,  which  had  engaged  his  attention.  The 
stranger  was  pleased,  and  being  asked  whether  he  knew  of 
any  merchant  who  wanted  a  clerk,  he  replied  in  the  affirm- 
ative.     Soon    after    his    return   home,   Mrs.  W.  received   a 

note  from  the  brother  in  law  of  this  gentleman,  Mr.  P , 

of  Frankfort,  requesting  that  William  might  be  sent  down 
to  him.  This  request  was  readily  complied  with,  and  in 
the  employment  of  this  gentleman,  through  many  tempta- 
tions, he  continued  for  two  years.  He  was  pleased  with 
his  business,  attentive  to  all  his  duties,  and  with  great 
promptitude,  not  only  obeyed  the  directions,  but  anticipated 
the  wishes  of  his  employer.  By  the  probity  of  his  character 
and  the  assiduity  of  his  conduct,  he  won  the  entire  confi- 
dence of  Mr.  P ,  who  at  length  confided  to   him  the 

most  difficult  portions  of  his  business,  leaving  his  most 
intricate  accounts  to  be  settled  by  the  young  clerk.  During 
the  second  year,  besides  the  business  of  the  store,  William 
transacted  the  affairs  of  the  Post  Office,  his  principal  having 
been  appointed  Post  Master.  When  the  year  was  concluded 
and  the  time  of  separation  came,  the  merchant  wept. 
Perhaps  no  more  affecting  tribute  to  the  fidelity  of  his 
clerk  could  be  rendered.  A  more  substantial  one,  however, 
was  rendered  in  the  offer  which  he  made,  to  take  William 
into  partnership  with  himself,  and  establish  him  in  business 
eighteen  miles  from  Frankfort. 

At  this  point  of  our  narrative,  we  must  pause  for  a 
moment  to  admire  the  goodness  and  the  grace,  which  in  the 
midst  of  powerful   temptations    and    threatening  dangers, 


22  MEMOIR     OP 


In  the  midst  of  a  host  of  temptations.  Influence  of  female  society. 

guarded  the  peace  and  protected  the  destiny  of  this  dear 
youth.  Speaking  of  his  situation  at  this  time,  he  says: 
"  There  was  not  a  Christian  in  the  place,  so  far  as  I  knew ; 
while  gambling,  drinking,  horse  racing,  fighting,  profane 
swearing  and  lewdness  were  so  common  as  to  excite  no 
surprise.  My  employer  himself  was  addicted  to  all  these 
vices,  and  they  were  not  considered  disreputable.  He  has 
had  a  gambling  party  in  his  counting  room,  where  I  slept,  all 
night !  Sometimes  he  would  take  me  as  his  partner."  Of 
his  achievements  in  still  baser  and  more  disgusting  scenes 
of  iniquity,  he  was  very  communicative  to  his  young  and 
guileless  clerk,  as  also  were  certain  young  men  of  the  place, 
who  gloried  in  their  shame.  If  the  reader  wonders  he  did 
not  fall  into  these  snares  of  the  devil,  so  did  Walton.  He 
said  he  believed  they  were  spread  for  his  ruin,  but  "  the 
accounts  they  gave  of  the  effects  of  their  wicked  practices 
upon  themselves  made  me  afraid  to  venture  upon  that  dan- 
gerous ground."  The  dread  of  such  consequences — the  fear 
of  the  impending  penalty  does  not  deter  thousands  of  other 
young  men  from  the  commission  of  secret  crime.  Why 
did  it  deter  him?  Because  a  merciful  God  overruled  the 
motive  and  made  it  effectual  to  his  preservation  from  the 
paths  of  the  destroyer.  From  profaneness  and  intemper- 
ance, too,  he  was  equally  preserved,  though  blasphemy  daily 
filled  his  ears,  and  though  he  lived  in  the  midst  of  bottles 
and  barrels.  Another  circumstance  exerted  a  favorable 
influence  upon  him.  Much  of  his  leisure  time  was  passed 
in  the  society  of  refined  and  virtuous  females,  where 
decency  of  manners  and  purity  of  morals  of  course  met 
with  an  approving  smile,  and  where  vice  should  ever  meet 
the  indignant  rebuke  which  its  meanness  and  vileness 
deserve.  When  it  shall  become  a  standing  rule  of  virtuous 
and  dignified  society,  to  exclude  from  its  privileges  and 
honors  the  tainted  in  character,  as  well  as  the  openly  disso- 
lute and  abandoned,  till  the  pressure  of  public  reprobation 
shall  have  produced  the  sorrows  of  a  genuine  repentance 


WILLIAM     C.     WALTON.  23 

The  grace  of  God  preserves  him.  Hean  bll  first  sermon  in  his  sixteenth  year. 

then  a  most  valuable  point  will  be  gained  in  our  progress 
towards  what  so  many  have  desired — a  perfect  community. 

But  so  long  as  any  class  of  men  use  the  title  of  a  gentle- 
man, to  cover  the  vices  of  a  profligate,  and  the  arrogant 
assumption  is  conceded  by  the  better  portion  of  society,  so 
long  will  virtue  be  grieved,  and  vice  be  triumphant ;  so  long 
will  the  dignity  of  the  former  be  violated,  and  the  assurance 
of  the  latter  encouraged  ;  so  long  will  the  power  of  motives 
to  virtuous  action  be  deplorably  diminished,  and  the  power 
of  motives  to  criminal  indulgence  be  fearfully  increased. 

With  a  grateful  heart  did  Walton,  in  reviewing  this  peril- 
ous period  of  his  life,  say,  after  attributing  all  due  influence 
to  the  subordinate  causes,  of  which  we  have  been  speaking  : 
"  The  grand  cause  of  my  preservation  from  ruin  was  the 
secret,  invisible  hand  of  God,  which  kept  me  back,  when 
every  possible  bad  influence  that  the  world  and  the  devil  could 
exert,  seemed  to  combine  for  my  destruction."  And  this  is 
one  theme  of  gratitude,  on  which  the  ransomed  in  Heaven 
will  dwell  with  ever  new  delight  through  all  tfieir  future 
happy  existence. 

During  his  residence  in  Frankfort,  he  heard  one  sermon 
from  a  Methodist  minister.  He  was  now  in  his  sixteenth 
year,  and  it  was  the  first  sermon  he  recollected  ever  to  have 
heard  !  One  expression  in  it  seized  on  his  memory  :  "  I 
don't  want  to  see  you  go  to  hell."  But  it  did  not  seem  to 
grapple  with  his  conscience.  His  mind  was  taken  up  with 
less  important  things.  He  resolved  on  cultivating  as  well 
an  elegant  style  of  conversation,  as  a  taste  for  reading.  To 
this  end,  he  kept  a  little  blank  book,  in  which,  from  time  to 
time  he  inserted  a  considerable  number  of  appropriate  words 
and  phrases,  to  be  used  as  the  occasion  should  ariso.  This 
practice  must  have  resulted  from  an  ardent  thirst  for  intel- 
lectual improvement,  for  so  far  from  being  encouraged  in 
this  very  laudable  work  by  his  young  friends  and  acquaint- 
ances, he  was  ridiculed  by  them,  when  the  object  of  the 


24  MEMOIR     OP     WALTON. 

An  expedient  for  Improvement.  Leaves  Frankfort  fur  Winchester. 

book  was  ascertained.  Little  did  our  young  Btudent  think 
that  in  the  method  of  mental  improvement  which  he  adopted, 
he  was  repeating  the  plan  which  some  of  the  most  eminent 
minds  have  chosen  as  suited  to  their  mode  of  action.* 

The  time  had  now  arrived,  when  a  change  of  place  was 
to  open  a  change  of  scene  to  the  thoughtful  and  inquiring 
mind  of  the  subject  of  this  biography.  His  mother  had 
removed  to  the  vicinity  of  Winchester,  where  a  daughter 
of  her's  was  residing,  and  on  visiting  this  sister,  she 
expressed  her  wish  that  William  would  come  to  Winchester 
and  reside.  On  inquiry,  it  was  ascertained  that  employ- 
ment would  be  found  for  him  in  the  store  of  Mr.  B ,  a 

respectable  merchant  of  Winchester,  and  an  elder  in  the 
Presbyterian  Church.  An  arrangement  to  that  effect  was 
concluded.  He  returned  to  Frankfort — settled  all  his 
affairs,  and  parted  from  his  friends,  who  gave  him  up  with  a 
reluctance  proportioned  to  the  integrity  of  his  character, 
the  amiableness  of  his  deportment,  and  the  uniform  dignity 
with  which  he  had  demeaned  himself.  Mutual  tears  were 
shed,  mutual  regrets  were  expressed,  and  with  that  undeli- 
nable  feeling  of  sadness,  which  will  cling  to  the  soul,  when 
taking  leave  of  accustomed  scenes,  to  pass  even  into  new 
and  more  pleasant  ones,  he  wended  his  way  to  the  new  field, 
which  was  opening  before  him.  With  what  prospects  he 
entered,  and  with  what  profit  he  occupied  this  field,  remains 
to  be  seen. 


♦That  distinguished,  but  corrupt  man,  Richard  Brinsley  Sheridan,  is  said  to  have 
manufactured  some  of  his  keenest  shads  of  wit  in  the  retirement  of  his  study. 

Moore's  Life  of  Sheridan- 


CHAPTER     II. 


His  first  convictions.  He  stifles  them. 

Mil.  Walton,  being  now  in  the  family  of  a  Presbyterian 
Elder,  went  regularly  to  Church,  an  event  of  which  he 
says  :  "  It  was  something  new  and  strange  for  me  to  be  at 
Church;  but  I  never  received  any  solemn  impression,  until 
on  the  evening  of  the  first  of  January,  1811,  Dr.  Hill  read 
a  discourse  of  Samuel  Davies,  on  the  text,  '  This  year 
thou  shalt  die.'  My  attention  was  arrested  by  the  striking 
considerations  contained  in  that  discourse,  and  several 
times  during  the  reading  of  it,  I  almost  resolved  to  begin 
immediately  to  seek  salvation.  And  if  at  the  close  of  the 
service,  serious  persons  had  been  invited  to  remain  for  con- 
versation and  prayer,  the  probability  is,  that  I  should  that 
night  have  been  converted.  But  the  assembly  was  dismissed, 
and  I  soon  mingled  with  the  society  of  those,  who  dissipated 
all  my  seriousness.  The  impression  was  entirely  gone  the 
next  day."  And  so  does  the  sinner  dare  to  trifle  with 
sacred  things,  resist  the  heavenly  messenger  that  seeks 
admission  into  his  heart,  and  welcome  the  unhallowed 
influences  that  come  in  from  the  world  to  extinguish  the 
first  germ  of  holy  resolution.  What  multitudes  from  such  a 
fatal  moment  have  dated  their  final  abandonment  of  God, 
and  the  irremediable  loss  of  their  deathless  souls !  Who 
3 


20  MEMOIR     OF 


Guilt  and  folly  of  dancing.  Play*  cards  on  the  Sabbath. 

can  magnify  the  importance  of  seizing  the  present  moment 
to  secure  the  interests  of  eternity?  Again  the  Spirit  of 
God  returned  to  the  bosom  of  the  rebel,  and  whispered, 
this  is  the  way  walk  in  it,  but  while  he  resolved  he  would  be 
a  Christian,  the  resolution  disappeared,  like  the  moining 
vapor,  before  the  breath  of  temptation. 

In   a  few  days  there  was  to  be  a  ball.     The  fascination 
succeeded.     He  concluded  to  defer  the  consideration  of  his 
soul's  concern  until  the  ball  was  over.     Here  was  seen  the 
natural  fruits  of  the  dancing  school,  of  which  he  was  so 
fond,   and  where  he  had  duly  learned  the  art  of  spending 
money,    of  wasting  time,    belittling  the  dignity  of  human 
nature,  and  demoralizing  the  principles  of  the  soul.     But, 
what  was  more   alarming  than  all  this — his  knowledge  of 
this    heathenish   and    contemptible    art    now   thrust    itself 
between  his  immortal  soul  and  the  imperative  claims  of  the 
Holy  Spirit.     In  reflecting  on  his  conduct  at  the  time,  he 
was  constrained  to  say,  "  There  God  might  have  justly  given 
me  up.     But  blessed   be   his  name,  He  continued  to  strive 
with  my  obstinate  heart."     And  yet  he  went  on  to  sin,  and 
to  add  insult  to  injury.     He  secretly  played  cards  on  the 
Sabbath   in  the   counting  room  of  his  employer,  not,  it  is 
true,  with  a  keen  and  well  enjoyed  zest,  but  with  slowness 
of  assent  before  the  act,  many  bitter  reproaches  of  con- 
science while  in  the  actual  commission  of  it,  and  still  more 
stinging  reflections  after  the  conclusion  of  it.     The  whole 
matter,  indeed,  cost  him  very  dearly,  especially  in  consider- 
ation of  the  expenditure  of  conscience,  and  afforded  him 
a  thorough  illustration  of  the  Bible  principle,  that  "  The 
way  of  the  transgressor  is  hare/." 

On  the  evening  of  that  Sabbath,  he  strolled  to  the  Metho- 
dist meeting,  rather  to  pass  away  the  evening  than  to  obtain 
any  spiritual  benefit.  Mr.  Wall,  an  aged,  local  Methodist 
Preacher,  occupied  the  pulpit.  His  venerable  appearance, 
his  simplicity  of  manner — his  apparent  singleness  of  pur- 


WILLIAM     C.     WALTON.  27 


Awakened  under  a  sermon  liy  ;i  Methodisl  Preacher.     The  point!  of  that  sermon. 

pose,  and  intense  sincerity  and  earnestness  of  soul,  while 
delivering  his  high  message,  arrested  the  attention  of 
Walton.  To  arrest  was  to  secure  it,  for  he  proceeded  in  a 
very  tender  and  affecting  strain  of  eloquence  to  depict  the 
sorrows  and  the  sufferings  of  the  Lamh  of  God.  He  dwelt 
with  considerable  minuteness  on  the  painful  circumstances 
of  that  memorable  scene,  from  which  Heaven  withdrew  its 
cheerful  light,  at  which  Earth  shook  with  terror,  and  Hell 
itself  was  moved  from  beneath  amid  the  general  agitation.  He 
adverted  to  the  cruel  thorns  that  crowned  that  sacred  head — 
to  the  mock  sceptre  with  which  the  dignity  of  the  King  of 
Heaven  was  insulted — the  mimic  purple,  which  in  derision 
of  his  imperial  claims,  was  thrown  around  his  body — to 
the  spear  that  pierced  that  noble,  generous  heart,  overflow- 
ing with  love  to  a  dying  world ;  in  short,  to  the  cross — the 
wondrous  cross,  where  Jesus  hung,  and  bled,  and  died. 
Christ  crucified  was  the  theme  of  the  veteran's  solemn 
discourse  and  earnest  appeals,  and  it  became  the  power  of 
God  to  the  soul  of  at  least  one  hearer.  The  truth  flashed 
upon  his  conscience  with  an  electric  force  and  rapidity. 
His  head  dropped  upon  his  breast,  as  if  it  had  been  trans- 
fixed by  some  mortal  shaft.  An  arrow  from  the  Spirit's 
bow  was  indeed  quivering  in  his  heart,  and  he  burst  forth 
into  supplications  for  mercy,  "  Lord,  have  7ncrcy  upon  me, 
and  pardon  all  that  is  past,  and  enable  me  to  do  better  for 
the  future." 

Fearful  that  he  should  lose  the  awful  impressions  now 
concentrating  on  his  mind,  he  ran  from  the  Church  to  the 
counting  room  for  the  purpose  of  seeking  solitude.  He 
felt  that  matters  of  infinite  moment  were  pending  between 
him  and  his  God — that  a  loud  summons  had  been  runo-  in 
his  ear — that  the  Saviour  was  knocking  at  the  door  of  his 
heart,  and  the  Spirit  urging  duty  on  him  with  a  power 
which  to  resist,  might  be  to  commit  suicide  on  his  own 
eoul.     He   continued  for  a  long  time  in  a  sitting  posture, 


28  MEMOIR     OF 


A  description  of  his  feelings.    His  tl  i^t  rt- — ;  continues.     Though  without  submission. 

pleading  with  God  for  mercy.  But  the  ear  of  Heaven 
seemed  closed  against  his  entreaties.  He  retired  to  bed, 
but  not  to  rest.  He  now  understood  the  meaning  of  the 
ge,  "The  wicked  are  like  the  troubled  sea  when  it 
cannot  rest;"  and  of  that  other  in  juxtaposition,  "There 
is  no  peace,  saith  my  God,  to  the  wicked."  Peace  had  lied 
his  bosom.  The  law  asserted  its  claims.  He  could  not 
satisfy  them.  The  law  thundered  its  penalty.  He  could 
not  endure  it.  It  demanded  a  perfect  righteousness.  He 
could  not,  as  he  supposed,  find  such  a  thing  in  the  universe. 
Conscience  loaded  him  with  reproaches.  He  felt  they 
were  just.  The  innumerable  iniquities  of  his  heart  and 
life  rose  in  dark  array.  His  spirits  sunk  under  the  terrors 
of  the  spectacle.  He  continued  praying  on  his  bed,  for  he 
was  afraid  to  go  to  sleep,  lest  he  should  awake  in  hell ! 

In  the  morning  he  entered  the  store  as  usual,  but  with  a 
diseased  and  restless  mind.  How  could  he  attend  to  the 
small  concerns  of  this  world,  when  eternal  interests  so 
imperatively  demanded  his  attention  ?  He  leaned  on  the 
counter  and  prayed.  As  yet  he  was  not  brought  to 
his  knees.  The  pride  of  his  heart  scorned  to  bow  thus 
low  for  the  sake  of  receiving  the  gratuity  of  a  pardon,  even 
from  Heaven's  glorious  King  !  By  the  following  Sabbath, 
(after  the  lapse  of  a  week,)  he  succeeded,  on  his  return 
from  divine  service  at  night,  in  bringing  his  knees  to  the 
floor.  His  friend  and  companion  bad  returned  with  him, 
and  being  in  the  same  room,  prevented  him  as  usual  from 
praying  on  the  bed.  While  sitting  on  it,  a  violent  struggle 
commenced  in  his  mind.  He  tried  to  pray,  but  was  not 
satisfied  with  his  performance,  feeling  all  the  time  that  it 
was  his  duty  to  go  on  his  knees,  and  pour  out  the  sorrows 
of  a  broken  heart  at  the  foot  of  the  cross.  But  his  obsti- 
nacy prevailed,  and  well  was  it,  that,  like  many  an  awakened 
sinner,  he  did  not  for  a  morsel  then  sell  himself  to  the 
destroyer  of  souls.     The  next  day  Conscience  swung  its 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  29 

Reads  different  bonks. 

scorpion  lash  over  his  soul,  yet  irritated  and  aching  with 
wounds,  that  had  not  even  begun  to  heal.  "Why,"  it 
seemed  to  cry,  "  will  you  be  stricken  any  more?  You  will 
revolt  more  and  more.  The  whole  head  is  sick,  and  the 
whole  heart  is  faint.  From  the  sole  of  the  foot  even  unto 
the  head,  there  is  no  soundness  in  it,  but  wounds  and 
bruises,  and  putrifying  sores."  Was  there  no  balm  in 
Gilead  ?  Was  there  no  physician  there?  He  besought 
the  Lord  to  grant  him  repentance,  and  to  enable  him  to 
resolve  on  a  life  of  holiness  and  devotedness  to  his 
service.  He  seemed  somewhat  humbled,  and  felt  a  kind 
of  peace,  but  was  sensible  that  he  was  not  sufficiently  peni- 
tent for  his  opposition  to  the  government  of  God.  In 
adverting  to  his  experience  at  this  time,  he  says  :  "  Among 
the  first  books  I  read,  was  '  The  Garden  of  the  Soul,'  a 
Roman  Catholic  book,  but  I  did  not  then  know  it.  I  began 
to  read  some  of  the  duties  of  a  Christian,  which  appeared 
to  be  opposed  to  my  inclination.  I  saw,  in  some  measure, 
the  folly  of  attempting  to  continue  in  ignorance  of  my 
duty,  in  the  presence  of  a  heart  searching  God,  but  was 
tempted  to  do  so,  but  do  not  recollect  that  I  omitted  any 
thing  in  consequence  of  this  temptation."  The  next  book, 
which  fell  in  his  way,  was  Hervey's  Dialogues  between 
Theron  and  Aspasio.  With  this  he  was  much  delighted. 
He  became  inspired  with  a  kind  of  false  love  for  some 
undefinable  Being.  In  contemplating  the  picture  of  the 
love  and  sufferings  of  Jesus  Christ,  as  drawn  by  Hervey's 
fervid  pencil,  he  was  enraptured ;  his  affections  were 
wrought  up  to  a  very  intense  degree  of  excitement,  and  he 
could  pray  with  a  fluency  that  seemed  almost  inexhaustible. 
He  could  with  difficulty,  however,  begin  to  pray,  until  his 
mind  caught  the  spirit  of  one  of  those  glowing  passages. 
All  this  time  he  was  looking  for  some  very  striking  demon- 
stration of  divine  power  in  his  conversion.  On  reaching 
that  part  of  the  book  where  Aspasio  visits  Theron  to  estab- 
3* 


30  MEMOIR    OF 


His  silt'  righteous  spirit.  RUps  at  night  and  prays. 

Lish  him  in  evangelical  religion,  he  expected  to  experience 
an  extraordinary  change.  By  the  most  earnest  and  impor- 
tunate supplications,  he  endeavored  to  constrain  the  Lord 
to  convert  him.  For  this  purpose  he  would  protract  them 
to  a  great  length,  even  till  he  was  in  danger  of  fainting  from 
exhaustion.  Rolling  his  eyes  towards  Heaven,  in  this 
expecting  attitude  he  would  passively  wait  for  the  blessing 
to  descend.  He  had  heard  of  persons  continuing  all  night 
in  prayer  ;  he  admired  such  a  reach  of  devotional  achieve- 
ment, and  almost  determined  to  imitate  it,  especially  as  by 
so  doing,  he  thought  he  should  accomplish  his  object,  but 
did  not  execute  any  resolution  of  this  sort.  About  this 
time,  (owing  probably  to  the  mental  excitement  he  had 
undergone,)  he  was  frequently  seized  in  the  night  with  the 
cramp,  a  thing  to  which  he  was  by  no  means  snbject.  He 
fancied  it  to  be  a  token  that  he  should  rise  and  pray. 
Accordingly,  he  obeyed  the  intimation  for  a  Cew  nights,  but 
at  length  his  love  of  sleep  prevailing  over  this  artificial 
sense  of  duty,  he  preferred  the  pleasures  of  undisturbed 
repose  to  the  self  denial  of  those  vigils,  which  conscience, 
like  a  hard  task-master,  was  enjoining  upon  him.  The 
consequence  of  this  first  omission  was,  that  the  succeeding 
day  was  one  of  remorse  and  self-reproach.  Many  of  its 
hours  were  already  spent,  before  he  could  satisfy  himself 
that  he  had  repented.  Relief  came  on  the  adoption  of  the 
resolution  never  again  to  disobey  such  a  call,  but  the  reso- 
lution itself  had  no  more  firmness  than  the  gossamer 
thread.  He  did  indeed,  several  times  afterwards,  arise  in 
deep  night,  and  spend  a  season  in  prayer,  but  more,  as  he 
confessed,  to  hush  the  clamors  of  conscience,  than  to 
indulge  the  overflowings  of  a  devotional  heart. 

The  season  of  sacramental  communion  in  the  Presbyte- 
rian Church  was  now  approaching,  a  circumstance,  which 
served  to  stimulate  him  to  more  diligent  self-examination. 
If,  through  the  grace  of  God,  he  was  entitled  to  a  seat  at 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  31 

Anxiety  about  uniting  with  the  Church.  Reveals  his  feelings. 

that  sacred  board,  why  should  he  not  press  forward  to  the 
enjoyment  of  his  privilege?  If,  on  the  contrary,  he  was 
unworthy  to  be  associated  with  the  people  of  the  Lord,  the 
sooner  he  knew  it,  the  better.  He  began  to  read  on  the 
subject,  was  fully  convinced  of  his  duty  to  profess  Christ 
before  the  world,  but  for  two  or  three  weeks  before  the 
event,  was  variously  agitated  with  alternate  doubt,  fear  and 
shame.  Perhaps,  (the  thought  would  occur  to  him,)  he 
was  a  self-deceiver.  Would  it  be  becoming  in  so  young  a 
person  to  go  forward  ?  Would  it  not  be  better  to  try  him- 
self a  little  longer  ?  Would  he  be  likely  to  hold  out  1 
What  would  the  world  say  ?  He  longed  to  unbosom  his 
feelings  to  his  Pastor,  but  was  afraid  to  do  it.  He  resolved 
he  would  write  to  him,  but  his  heart  failed  him.  This 
omission  was  wrong.  Such  fears  have  often  been  the  most 
dangerous  snares  to  souls.  Let  the  anxious  and  convicted 
sinner,  by  all  means,  seek  the  counsel  of  the  Minister  of 
Christ,  or  of  some  pious  and  judicious  Christian,  and  tell 
his  whole  heart.  To  his  mother  alone  did  he  at  that  time 
communicate  his  feelings,  but  from  her  he  received  no 
encouragement  to  obey  the  farewell  command  of  his  Lord 
and  Master.     He  endeavored  to  muster  resolution  enough 

to  submit  his  condition  to  his  employer,   Mr.   B ,  the 

elder,  but  his  tongue  would  not  do  its  office.  Of  the  rules 
and  regulations  of  the  Church  he  was  ignorant,  not  even 
knowing  that  he  must  be  examined,  to  receive,  (according 
to  the  custom  of  many  Presbyterian  Churches,)  a  token 
of  admittance.  '  I  intended  '  said,  he  '  to  go  forward  as 
the  Episcopalians  do.' 

On  the  Sabbath  when  the  communion  was  to  be  celebra- 
ted, he  assisted  the  Elder  in  conveying  the  communion 
vessels  to  the  sanctuary,  and  on  the  way  made  another 
unsuccessful  attempt  to  unburthen  his  mind.  On  their 
return,  gathering  courage  from  despair,  he  made  a  last 
effort,  and  the  first  difficulty  being  overcome,  he  stated  his 


82  MEMOIR    OF 


Change  of  views.  His  faith  confirmed.  The  atonement. 

exercises  freely.  They  called  on  the  Pastor,  who  investi- 
gated the  reason  of  the  hope  that  was  in  him,  and  by  the 
proper  authorities  he  was  duly  admitted  to  the  privileges  of 
the  sacrament.  Returning  home  from  the  examination,  he 
prayed  very  frequently,  and  taking  the  Bible,  read  and 
meditated  those  passages,  which  dwell  on  the  sufferings  of 
Christ,  until,  as  he  thought,  by  a  living  faith  he  discerned 
Him,  who  died  to  save  our  souls  from  sin  and  hell.  Still 
he  did  not,  as  he  wished  and  expected,  feel  his  heart  warmed 
with  that  love,  melted  with  that  gratitude,  or  fdled  with  that 
abhorrence  of  sin,  which  he  thought  must  accompany  right 
views  of  the  Person  and  Character  of  the  Son  of  God.  But 
when,  seated  at  the  table  of  the  Lord,  he  received  the 
pledges  of  his  dying  love,  a  new  scene  seemed  to  open 
before  him,  while  the  boundless  merits  and  the  resplendent 
glory  of  the  crucified  Saviour  were  unfolded  to  his  view. 

The  energies  of  the  atonement,  particularly  in  its  rela- 
tion to  sin,  and  to  the  active  duties  of  the  believer  in  Jesus, 
seemed  wonderful.  And  when  and  where,  if  not  at  the 
sacramental  feast,  should  we  expect  with  clearness  and 
delight  to  contemplate  the  atonement  in  its  sublime  and 
diversified  relations — to  the  perfections  of  Jehovah — to  the 
works  of  His  creation  and  providence — to  His  moral  gov- 
ernment— to  His  pure  and  holy  law — to  the  everlasting 
purposes  of  God — to  the  Person  and  Offices  of  Christ — to 
the  dispensations  past  and  present — to  the  Church  of  God 
in  Heaven,  and  the  children  of  perdition  in  Hell — to  the 
Resurrection  of  the  dead,  and  the  final  Judgment  ?  To 
them  all,  the  atonement  has  relations  of  import  too  momen- 
tous to  be  disregarded  by  beings,  whose  everlasting  interests 
are  intertwined  with  these  relations. 

For  a  week  aft^r  his  participation  in  the  sacrament  of 
the  supper,  a  pleasant  tranquillity  pervaded  his  mind, 
interrupted  only  by  the  anticipation,  that,  as  a  fair  and 
cloudless  day  often  precedes  the  agitation  of  the  elements 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  33 

Severe  temptations.  BonnsMof  relief. 

and  the  gathering  of  the  storm,  so  the  peace  he  enjoyed 
might  provoke  the  adversary  to  raise  a  tumult  in  his  soul. 
If  his  fears  were  not  realized  in  all  their  extent,  they  proved 
to  be  not  entirely  without  foundation.  The  Tempter 
would  gladly  have  converted  the  bread  of  life  into  a  destruc- 
tive poison.  Seizing,  after  his  manner,  on  some  of  the 
stronger  and  more  recondite  truths  of  revelation,  he  endeav- 
ored to  make  them  odious  to  the  tender  and  susceptive 
mind  of  the  young  convert.  Predestination  and  its  cognate 
truths  rather  ministered  perplexity  than  satisfaction.  All 
this  was  perfectly  natural,  as  well  as  coincident  with  that 
portion  of  his  experience  already  narrated,  which  cannot 
fail  to  convince  the  thoughtful  reader,  that  "  every 
high  thing,  which  cxalteth  itself  against  the  knowledge  of 
God,"  was  not  entirely  cast  down.  Of  God  himself  and 
his  holy  law,  he  at  times  had  thoughts,  which  in  the  review 
rilled  him  with  exquisite  pain.  Such,  in  the  yet  inchoate 
state  of  his  spiritual  views,  were  the  temptations  which 
vexed  him.  Of  the  ways  and  means  by  which  he  obtained 
any  relief,  he  himself  shall  speak  : 

"  That  which  gave  me  the  most  speedy  relief  from  these 
thoughts  was,  reflecting  how  many  great  and  good  men 
have  testified  that  God's  commandments  are  infinitely  holy, 
just,  and  good,  when  at  the  same  time  they  acknowledged 
themselves  condemned  by  those  laws.  I  then  thought  it 
must  be  the  vileness  of  my  own  heart,  *  which  excited  these 
thoughts.  It  seems  to  me  that  I  at  several  times  had  doubts 
as  to  the  divine  inspiration  of  the  Scriptures,  but  several 
causes  combined  at  different  times  to  deliver  me  from  this 


*  Edward  Payson  sometimes  called  his  heart :I  a  compound  of  every  thing  that  is 
bad."  In  one  of  his  self-abasius  views,  he  compares  it  to  "  the  bottomless  pit:  out 
of  it,  as  soon  as  the  door,  with  which  the  Holy  Spirit  covers  it,  is  opened  by  his 
absence,  a  thick,  noisome  smoke  arises,  with  a  tribe  of  hellish  locusts,  that  devour  the 
tender  plants  of  grace,  and  bring  on  a  darkness  which  maybe  felt"  Again,  if  he 
"attempts  to  approach  the  throne  of  grace,  whole  floods  of  evil  imaginations  carry 
him  away,  so  that  he  is  tain  to  have  recourse  to  unthoughl-of  methods  to  get  rid  o' 
them." — .Memoir,  p.  89. 


84  MEMOIR    OF 


A  characteristic  of  Pascal.     Remark  of  Ratal  Hall.     Hlfl  desire  for  the  ministry. 

perplexity.  And  I  have  reason  to  praise  the  Lord,  that  at 
many  times  since,  I  have  received  additional  and  powerful 
evidences,  which  have  been  of  much  service  to  me." 

It  was  ever  a  trait  in  Walton's  inquisitive  mind  to  be 
satisfied  only  with  reasons.  To  resist  error  with  the  weap- 
ons of  reason,  and  temptation  with  the  weapons  of  grace, 
was  with  him  a  favorite  way.  Is  is  said  of  Pascal,  that, 
"  when  good  reasons  were  not  given  him,  he  would  search 
for  better,  nor  would  he  ever  be  satisfied,  but  by  such  as 
appeared  to  him  to  be  well  founded."  Reasoning  with 
temptation  will  not  indeed  alone  avail  to  its  overthrow,  for 
the  gentle  voice  of  reason  can  scarcely  be  heard  amid  the 
storm  of  passion,  but  Grace  itself  will  always  act  with 
more  vigor  when  Reason  is  on  its  side.  "  All  attempts  to 
urge  men  forward,"  says  the  eloquent  Robert  Hall,  "  even 
in  the  right  path,  beyond  the  measure  of  their  light,  are 
impracticable  in  our  situation,  if  they  were  lawful,  and 
unlawful,  if  they  were  practicable.  Augment  their  light, 
conciliate  their  affections,  and  they  will  follow  of  their  own 
accord." 

Almost  simultaneously  with  the  commencement  of  Wal- 
ton's serious  impressions,  commenced  his  thoughts  of 
aspiring  to  the  sacred  office  and  work  of  the  ministry. 
"  Being  all  my  life,"  he  says  in  his  diary,  "  more  acquainted 
with  the  Methodists  than  any  other  sect  of  religious  people, 
I  did  not  know  that  any.  person  ever  received  a  liberal 
education  for  the  purpose."  He  entertained  some  indefinite 
notions  about  combining  the  preaching  of  the  gospel  with 
secular  business,  which  he  had  then  no  intention  of  relin- 
quishing. But  as  his  mind  became  more  charmed  with 
spiritual  things,  his  inclination  for  the  mercantile  business 
diminished.  He  therefore  made  a  frank  and  honest  com- 
munication of  his  views  to  Mr.  P ,  the  gentleman  with 

whom  he  had  expected  to  enter  into  partnership,  and 
assigned,  as  his  reason  for  declining  it,  the  great  change 


WILLIAM    C.WALTON.  35 

Gives  up  all  for  it.     Providence  interposes  and  meets  him.     His  timidity  in  ear  y  life. 

in  his  religious  sentiments.  He  expressly  wished  to  be 
understood  as  not  desiring  to  hear  any  more  on  the  subject, 
and  boldly  threw  himself  on  the  Providence  of  God,  awaiting 
its  developements  in  unhesitating  reliance  on  its  wisdom 
and  power.  Nor  was  that  reliance  vain.  The  result  of 
the  course  he  adopted,  was  a  full  exemplification  of  the 
truth  of  the  divine  promises:  'In  all  thy  ways  acknowledge 
the  Lord,  and  he  shall  direct  thy  paths.'  •  Commit  thy 
way  unto  the  Lord.  Trust  also  in  him,  and  he  shall  bring 
it  to  pass.' 

While  in  this  expecting  attitude,  he  was  invited  by  Dr. 
Hill  of  Winchester,  to  his  house,  and  there  received  from 
that  gentleman  a  proposal  that  he  should  be  educated  by  the 
Presbytery  of  Winchester ,  with  a  view  to  the  holy  ministry  ! 
This  was  a  very  agreeable  surprise.  To  this  proposal  he 
of  course  gave  his  solemn  consideration.  In  the  mean  time 
he  consulted  his  mother,  who  at  first  opposed,  but  at 
length  acquiesced  in  his  views. 

But  how  should  he  ever  summon  sufficient  resolution  to 
perform  public  ministerial  duties,  when  oppressed  with  such 
diffidence  ?  Scarcely  had  he  courage  to  ask  a  blessing  at 
meals,  much  less  to  conduct  family  worship.  On  various 
occasions,  when  visiting  his  friends,  conscience  pressed  him 
sore  to  "  take  up  his  cross,"  as  it  is  sometimes  absurdly 
expressed ;  that  is,  to  pray  with  them,  (surely  no  cross  to 
the  Christian.)  Fear  too  often  prevailed  against  his  resolu- 
tion, until  at  length,  visiting  his  mother  previously  to  his 
final  departure  to  the  scene  of  his  studies,  he  felt  it  unbe 
coming  any  longer  to  yield  to  a  timidity,  which  would  gain 
strength  by  indulgence.  Night  came,  and  with  it  great 
agitation.  Should  he  be  ashamed  to  confess  Christ  before 
the  mother  that  bore  him  ?  He  went  out,  and  prayed  earn- 
estly that  he  might  know  what  was  his  duty,  and  that  he 
might  receive  strength  to  perform  it.  He  returned  still 
undecided,  and  at  length  resolved  to  retire  without  praying, 


30  MEMOIR    OP 


His  decision  and  boldness  in  later  lite.  Personal  fidelity. 

when  his  sister  asked  him  to  lead  in  family  worship  !  This 
removed  every  difficulty,  lie  promptly  engaged  in  singing 
and  prayer,  and  succeeded  beyond  his  expectation.  He 
continued  to  discharge  the  duties  of  family  worship  while 
he  remained  at  his  mother's  house,  and  the  next  week  took 
a  final   leave  of  her. 

The  writer  has  adverted  to  these  particulars  of  the  diffi- 
dence of  Walton,  because  that  diffidence  so  strongly  con- 
trasts with  the  moral  courage  which  he  manifested  in  sub- 
sequent years,  and  in  scenes  of  far  more  severe  trial ; 
because  that  indecision  was  afterwards  exchanged  for  great 
decision  of  character.  While  the  amiable  qualities  of  his 
younger,  continued  to  adorn  his  later  years,  the  more 
defective  traits  of  his  earlier  character  were,  during  the 
progress  of  grace  in  his  heart,  succeeded  by  their  oppo- 
sites,  thus  contributing  very  essentially  to  his  usefulness, 
as  well  as  to  the  honors  of  supcrabounding  grace. 

About  this  time  the  Presbytery  met  at  Martinsburg, 
where  its  sessions  were  attended  by  Walton,  with  all  that 
interest  which  is  felt  by  one  in  early  life,  expecting  to 
engage  in  the  same  work  with  the  honored  ministers  of  the 
cross.  He  seized  the  opportunity  presented  by  his  sojourn 
in  a  respectable  family,  to  converse  faithfully  and  affection- 
ately with  th.e  head  of  it  :  a  duty,  alas  !  too  often  neglected 
by  ministers,  students  in  divinity,  and  Christians,  but  which, 
when  faithfully  performed,  not  only  carries  with  it  its  own 
rich  reward,  but  not  seldom  eventuates  in  the  conversion  of 
those  who  are  the  objects  of  pious  solicitude.*     The  faith 

*The  editor  has  heard  of  some  memorable  cases  of  salvation,  brought  to  the  houses 
of  individuals  in  Philadelphia,  in  former  dayB,  at  the  sessions  of  the  General  Assembly 
through  the  fidelity  and  zeal  of  tlieir  respected  guests,   members  of  the  Assembly 

A  Clergyman  not  l<  >nj;  since  called  at  the  house  of  a  friend  in  W Before 

tearing,  be  proposed  prayer.  Two  young  ladies  were  called  down  from  the  chamber. 
A  few  words  were  dropped  into  the  car  of  each,  which  were  followed  by  prayer. 
One  of  the  young  ladies  was  awakened  from  her  dream  of  sin  by  the  Spirit  of  God 
setting  home  the  truth,  and  brought  to  rejoice  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  The  Clergy- 
man did  not  know  the  happy  results  of  his  admonitions  till  many  months  after,  as  be 
lived  some  miles  distant.  "  A  word  fitly  spoken  is  like  apples  of  gold  in  a  net  work 
of  silver." 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  37 


Sent  to  Hampden  Sydney. 


and  fidelity,  the  abundant  prayers  and  indefatigable  zeal  of 
Harlan  Page  have  been  embalmed  by  my  early  and  respected 
friend  Mr.  Hallock,  in  the  pages  of  the  American  Tract 
Society.  That  most  efficient  principle  of  action — individ- 
uality of  effort  for  the  salvation  of  individuals — which 
was  the  secret  of  Page's  success,  was  well  illustrated  through 
Walton's  life.  To  this  principle  he  added  another — that  of 
exciting  others  to  like  aggressive  movements  upon  the  ranks 
of  the  enemy.  Though  among  the  most  modest  and  retiring 
of  men,  he  did  not  fear  the  face  of  a  fellow  being,  when 
charged  with  a  message  from  God  to  his  soul. 

It  was  determined  by  the  Presbytery  that  their  young 
candidate  should  be  sent  to  Hampden  Sydney  College,  at 
Prince  Edward,  there  to  engage  in  studies  suitable  to  his 
present  advancement  in  knowledge.  Accordingly,  in  the 
autumn  of  1811,  he  repaired  to  that  institution,  with  a  firm 
resolution,  as  well  to  cultivate  the  graces  of  Christian 
living,  as  to  seek  attainments  in  human  learning.  That  a 
successful  progress  may  be  made  in  both  ;  that  the  eminence 
of  the  scholar,  and  the  pre-eminence  of  the  Christian  may 
be  combined  in  the  same  individual,  was  happily  illus- 
trated in  such  men  as  Leighton,  Baxter,  Taylor,  Howe, 
Boerhaave,  Halyburton,  Edwards,  Mather,  Martyn,  and  a 
host  of  others,  who  seemed  to  love  the  maxim  of  Luther, 
"  bene  orasse,  bene  studuisse,"  *  or  that  of  higher  authority 
and  deeper  import,  "  The  knowledge  of  the  Holy  is 

UNDERSTANDING."       PrOV.  ix.   10. 

Speaking  of  the  state  of  his  mind  at  Prince  Edward,  he 
says  :  "  I  have  been  enabled  to  pray,  (apparently)  more 
devoutly  than  ever  before — have  made  a  very  regular 
attendance  on  that  duty."  But  change  of  place  did  not 
produce  exemption  from  temptation.  He  was  much  troub- 
led with  "  proud  and  rebellious  thoughts."     Against  these 


1  To  pray  well  is  to  study  well." 


38  MEMOIR    OP 


The  misery  of  diffidence.  Overcome  by  grace. 

he  contended,  like  the  Christian  Pilgrim  with  Apollyon, 
and  like  him,  through  grace  helping,  gained  the  victory, 
though  in  much  trihulation. 

Under  date  of  Dec.  24,  1811,  he  says  :  "  For  a  few  days 
past  I  have  been  considerably  relieved  ;  have  prayed  heartily 
to  be  delivered,  and  to  be  enabled  to  love  this  blessed 
Being,  against  whom  my  corrupt  heart  rose ;  have  been 
more  desirous  lately  than  usual  of  living  spiritually  minded, 
and  to  be  enabled  to  set  my  affections  supremely  on  God; 
have  been  at  several  prayer  meetings  here,  at  some  of  which 
have  enjoyed  myself  a  good  deal,  and  am  in  hopes  derived 
some  advantage  from  them.  But  I  am  exceedingly  diffi- 
dent, expecting  to  be  called  on  every  time,  keeps  me  out 
of  order,  and  prevents  my  deriving  that  advantage,  which 
I  am  persuaded  I  should  otherwise  have;  but  what  is  most 
to  be  regretted  of  all  is,  that  it  renders  me  unable  to  pray 
with  fervor  and  sincerity,  as  I  am  so  much  embarrassed, 
that  it  causes  me  to  tremble  considerably,  and  in  some  meas- 
ure to  lose  my  recollection." 

Many  young  Christians  have  felt  this.  There  is  no  better 
remedy  than  earnest  and  importunate  secret  prayer  with 
reference  to  this  difficulty.  This  has  stopped  the  mouths  of 
lions,  and  quenched  the  violence  of  that  fear  'which  bring- 
eth  a  snare,'  and  destroys  the  pleasure  of  the  social  prayer 
meeting.  Many  a  formidable  difficulty  rises  before  the 
mind  of  the  humble  aspirant  towards  the  sacred  office,  but 
He  who  called  Moses  from  his  retirement  in  Midian,  where 
he  fed  his  father's  flocks,  to  assume  the  chief  magistracy  of 
his  people,  '  will  be  with  thy  mouth  and  teach  thee  what 
thou  shalt  say,'  Oh  trembling  brother,  if  thou  art  '  not 
eloquent,  but  slow  of  speech  and  of  a  slow  tongue.' 

Such  was  William  C.  Walton  by  nature,  but  God  made 
him  a  very  useful  man.  Heaven  has  already  received  some 
of  the  jewels  of  his  ministry.  Others,  we  trust,  are  pre- 
paring to  shine  forth  as  the  sun  in  the  kingdom  of  their 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  39 

Being  dead,  he  yet  spcaketli. 

Father.  Perhaps  though  dead,  he  may  still  speak  to  the 
living  through  the  bright  example  of  his  holy  life,  and  the 
tender  recollection  of  his  unwearied  labors  for  those,  who 
will  see  his  face  and  hear  his  voice  no  more ! 


CHAPTER     III. 


His  youthful  diary. 


Thus  far  we  have  given  a  consecutive  sketch  of  the 
prominent  features  of  the  early  character,  and  the  facts  of 
the  early  life  of  Mr.  Walton,  but  to  those  who  love  religious 
biography,  it  is  both  pleasant  and  profitable  to  enter  into 
the  bosom  secrets  of  a  mind  that  is  in  the  daily  habit  of 
holding  high  converse  with  its  Author  and  Redeemer.  We 
wish  to  become  more  intimately  acquainted  with  the  thoughts 
of  the  pious ;  to  participate  in  their  exercises ;  to  rejoice 
in  their  joy ;  to  sympathize  with  their  sorrow ;  in  fine,  to 
tread  with  them  the  path  of  their  pilgrimage,  while  as  our 
own  Christian  poet  has  said, 

"  Alternate  sunshine,  bitter  tears" 

illumine  or  sadden  the  scene.  Into  the  temple  of  the  soul 
we  desire  to  enter,  and  not  satisfied  with  a  view  of  the 
outer  court,  we  would  penetrate  into  its  most  holy  recess, 
and  there  upon  the  altar  of  the  broken  heart,  contemplate 
the  sacrifice,  which  sends  its  sweet  savor  up  to  God.  In  a 
private  journal  kept  by  Walton  at  the  age  of  eighteen  he 
thus  writes  : 

"  Sabbath-day ,  Dec.  29th,  1811. — Upon  a  review  of  my 
past  life,  I  can  see  nothing  but  a  scene  of  rebellion  and 


MEMOIR    OF    WALTON.  41 

Difficulties  and  corruptions. 

opposition  to  God,  (sad  marks  of  a  depraved  and  corrupted 
heart!)  being  sensible  that  my  remaining  corruptions  are 
painful,  (though  not  enoughso,)  such  as  inability  to  love  God 
and  Christ,  to  meditate  on  heavenly  things  with  delight,  I 
have  not  those  heart  affecting,  transforming,  and  humbling 
views  of  Christ  that  I  would  wish  to  have;  in  fact  at  times 
when  I  am  reading  of  affectionate  devotion,  my  corruptions 
are  excited,  in  opposition  to  my  rational  desire  to  live  a  life 
of  holiness.  If  I  know  my  own  heart,  I  believe  that 
holiness  with  the  rest  of  the  doctrines  of  Christianity  is 
calculated  to  make  us  happy  both  now  and  forever.  I  can- 
not place  my  dependence  and  faith  in  Christ  nor  plead  for 
blessings  for  his  sake,  as  I  would  wish,  although  my  depend- 
ence is  on  free  grace  and  mercy,  for  I  am  sensible  that  I 
can  do  nothing  which  would  give  me  a  title  to  the  favor  of 
God.  Sometimes  I  have  such  views  of  the  difficulties  of 
living  a  holy  life,  that  they  almost  discourage  me,  until  I  can 
exercise  faith  in  God,  (although  it  is  weak)  hoping  he  will 
in  due  time  enable  me  to  exercise  that  faith  on  Christ  which 
works  by  love  and  purifies  the  heart ;  and  many  other  cor- 
ruptions such  as  envy,  pride,  etc. — all  of  which  render  me 
very  weak  :  my  resolutions  I  have  hitherto  made  have 
proved  also  very  weak.  Therefore  hoping  that  God  will 
strengthen  me  with  blessings  suited  to  my  wants,  and  build 
me  up  in  the  most  holy  faith,  I  shall  enter  into  some  reso- 
lutions respecting  my  future  conduct,  to  which,  as  far  as 
they  are  agreeable  to  His  will,  I  trust  that  He  will  enable 
me  to  conform." 

REMEMBER  TO  READ  THESE  RESOLUTIONS  OVER  ONCE  A 

WEEK. 

1.  "Let  me  endeavor  to  raise  my  first  thoughts  in  the 
morning  to  God  and  that  they  may  be  devout  and  thankful. 

2.  To  rise  early  and  pay  my  morning  devotions  to  God, 
beg  his  assistance  in  the  intended  business  of  the  day. 

3.  To  set  myself  to  read  the  scriptures  every  morning 
and  evening,  and  to  endeavor  to  grow  in  the  knowledge  of 
the  same  ;  also  every  morning  to  endeavor  to  meditafe  on 
spiritual  things,  then  and  at  other  times  to  be  examining 
into  the  state  of  my  sou],  whether  I  grow  in  grace  and 
have  an  interest  in  Christ  or  not. 

4* 


42  MEMOIR    OF 

Resolutions. 


4.  After  private  devotions  in  the  evening,  when  going  to 
bed,  to  ask  myself  wherein  I  could  possibly,  in  any  respect, 
have  done  better;  how  I  have  improved  my  time;  how 
innocence  lias  been  secured,  and  duties  discharged. 

5.  Never  to  triile  with  a  book  with  which  I  have  no 
present  concern.  In  applying  myself  to  any  book,  let  me 
first  recollect  what  I  may  learn  by  it,  and  then  beg  suitable 
assistance  from  God,  and  let  me  continually  endeavor  to 
make  all  my  studies  subservient  to  practical,  religious  and 
ministerial  usefulness. 

C.  To  be  very  careful  in  the  employment  of  my  time, 
and  never  to  incur  unnecessary  expenses. 

7.  Let  me  endeavor  to  render  myself  agreeable  and  useful 
to  all  about  mc,  by  a  tender,  compassionate,  friendly  beha- 
vior, avoiding  all  trifling  stories,  foolish  jesting  and  idle 
chat,  (that  is  unnecessary,)  also  to  endeavor  never  to  speak 
ill  of  any  person,  unless  some  particular  good  call  for  it. 

8.  To  be  strictly  temperate  at  meals,  to  endeavor  to  see 
the  hand  of  the  Lord  in  all  my  comforts,  and  to  exercise 
gratitude  for  the  same. 

9.  To  endeavor  to  lift  up  my  heart  often  to  God  in  the 
intervals  of  secret  worship,  repeating  those  petitions,  which 
are  of  the  greatest  important    ■ 

10.  To  endeavor  to  guard  against  pride  and  vain  glory, 
remembering  how  unworthy  my  pasl  sins  have  rendered  me 
of  the  esteem  of  any  good  person,  much  more  of  God. 

11.  Never  to  do  any  thing  out  of  revenge. 

12.  Never  to  speak  in  narration  any  thing  but  the  pure 
and  simple  verity. 

13.  Never  to  speak  any  thing  that  is  ridiculous  or  matter 
of  laughter  on  the  Lord's  day. 

14.  Never  to  give  over,  nor  in  the  least  to  slacken  my 
firrht  with  my  corruptions,  however  unsuccessful  I  may  be. 

15.  Never  to  laugh  at  the  faults,  follies,  and  infirmities  of 
others. 

10.  To  keep  a  catalogue  of  the  particular  mercies  I 
may  receive,  oi  the  sins   and  infirmities  into  which  I  may 

fall. 

The  above  rules,  with  some  alterations,  are  taken  from 
those  of  Doddridge  and  Edwards." 

Let  the  reader  not  lightly  pass  them  over,  though  not 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  43 

Humiliation.  \v>  .ikness. 

strictly  original,  but  like  our  departed  friend,  ponder  them, 
and  appropriate  them  to  himself.  Reader,  are  they  not 
suited  to  thy  case? 

The  following  record  seems  to  have  been  made  on  the 
evening  of  the  same  Sabbath  : 

"  Sabbath-day,  Dec.  20th,  1811. — I  have  cause  for  deep 
humiliation  before  God  for  the  sins  of  this  day,  especially 
while  at  social  prayer,  so  much  vain  glory  and  insincerity  ; 
was  considerably  affected,  but  it  did  not  arise  from  repent- 
ance and  sorrow  for  sin  :  in  fact  I  am  not  confident  what 
was  the  cause,  but  it  started  tears  from  my  eyes.  This 
also  was  an  occasion  of  sin.  I  hope  to  be  enabled  and  shall 
endeavor  in  future  to  pray  at  social  meetings  with  more 
sincerity,  and  be  more  solicitous  to  find  acceptance  with 
God  than  to  please  man,  but  my  diffidence  and  corruptions 
are  very  disagreeable." 

"  Monday,  Dec.  SQth,  at  night. — This  evening  prayed  in 
Mr.  Hoge's  family  ;  but  Oh  the  coldness,  the  insincerity  of 
my  heart.  Oh  for  a  new  creation  unto  holiness,  and  the 
shedding  abroad  of  Christ's  love  in  my  soul,  that  I  might 
be  enabled  to  serve  him  in  the  beauty  of  holiness.  Gra- 
cious Lord  !  my  corruptions  are  great,  but  the  work  is 
thine.  Oh  grant  that  thy  grace  may  be  sufficient  for  me. 
I  think  I  can  discover  my  need  of  Divine  assistance  more 
plainly  than  usual." 

"  Sabbath  evening,  Jan.  5th,  1812. — I  find  that  my  reso- 
lutions are  as  weak  as  water  ;  without  the  assistance  of  God, 
I  cannot  lift  up  my  soul  to  Him  with  that  gratitude  which 
his  mercies  deserve  ;  in  fact,  I  have  not  a  deep  sense  of  the 
greatness  of  his  mercy.  I  find  it  difficult  to  exercise  self- 
denial.  I  also  discover  so  much  corruption  and  sinfulness 
in  myself,  (though  I  am  not  sufficiently  sensible  of  it,)  and 
my  faith  being  weak  at  best,  that  it  sometimes  almost  for- 
sakes me,  I  cannot  view  in  a  proper  light  that  fulness  which 
is  in  Christ.  Our  praying  society  met  this  evening.  I  offi- 
ciated, but  my  corruptions  and  diffidence  combined  to  ren- 
der me  unable  to  pray  with  that  fixedness  of  devotion  that  I 
ought.  Oh  for  the  invigorating  and  renewing  influences 
of  the  Holy  Spirit  to  enable  me  to  offer  to  my  God  a  more 
acceptable  service  through  Jesus  Christ.     I   think  I  have 


44  MEMOIR   OF 


Dedre  of  BanctificaUon. 


discovered  more  beauty  in  the  Old  Testament  through  the 
week  past  than  heretofore,  and  trust  that  the  Lord  will 
enlighten  my  mind  to  understand  the  scriptures,  and  make 
them  sweet  to  my  soul." 

"Sabbath  evening,  Jan.  19///. — What  account  shall  I 
give  of  myself?  When  corrupt  asl  am,  I  discover  so  many 
sins  and  imperfections,  how  must  I  appear  in  the  sight  of 
God,  and  yet  how  little  humbled!  My  heart  is  so  insensi- 
ble, so  cold,  so  ungrateful,  notwithstanding  the  (listi»(ruish- 
ing  goodness  of  God  to  me  !  Our  society  met  this  evening — 
my  endeavoring  to  prepare  for  officiating,  together  with  my 
diffidence  put  me  out  of  order ;  it  seems  that  I  cannot 
humbly  rely  on  the  assistance  of  God.  Oh  for  the  influ- 
ences of  the  Spirit  of  grace,  to  enable  me  to  exercise  proper 
affections  towards  my  God  and  Redeemer  and  to  worship 
Him  in  Spirit  and  truth — to  be  enabled  sensibly  to  realize 
my  dependence  on  Christ  and  to  approach  the  Father,  relying 
on  his  merits  alone.  I  was  not  called  on  this  evening  to 
pray.  I  think  I  plainly  see  that  without  the  sanctifying  and 
invigorating  influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  all  my  reso- 
lutions and  attempts  to  live  a  holy  life,  are  vain." 

"  Sabbath  evening,  Jan.  26th. — I  think  I  have  a  greater 
desire  than  usual  of  being  sanctified  and  enabled  to  live 
near  the  Lord,  of  being  enabled  to  see  the  goodness  of  the 
Lord  to  me,  and  my  unworthiness,  and  to  exercise  gratitude. 
Oh  my  pride,  my  corruptions  and  my  weakness,  how  una- 
ble am  I  to  do  any  thing  meritorious ;  even  my  prayers  in 
the  society,  and  in  the  family  are  dreadfully  corrupt ;  when  I 
have  a  tolerable  flow  of  words,  tins  is  an  occasion  of  sin. 
Spiritual  pride  is  excited  and  my  diffidence,  inexperience, 
and  want  of  love  and  fear  of  God  and  warm  affections 
towards  him,  render  me  very  unable  to  perform  this  duty 
aright." 

"  Sabbath  evening,  Feb.  2d. — No  material  change  has 
taken  place  this  past  week  ;  still  is  my  heart  ungrateful, 
my  affections  cold,  notwithstanding  all  the  multiplied 
instances  of  the  goodness  of  God  to  me.  Oh,  how  hard  it 
is  for  me  to  keep  my  heart  in  a  proper  frame  throughout 
the  day  ;  when  engaged  at  my  studies,  I  am  surrounded 
with  temptations,  and  do  sensibly  feel  that  without  the 
grace  of  God  I  shall  never  be  enabled  to  live  spiritually 
minded,  without  which  there  is  neither  life  nor  real  peace. 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  45 


[mpreadmu  produced  i>y  an  Earthquake. 


But  I  trust  that  I  shall  not  despair,  though  the  Lord  may 
delay  long,  as  it  is  his  free  mercy  alone  which  I  plead.  I  think 
I  can  discover  that  my  diffidence  is  wearing  off  in  some  meas- 
ure, as  I  was  not  so  much  intimidated  this  evening  while 
praying  in  the  society,  as  commonly — but  believe  there 
was  not  much  alteration  as  it  respects  my  heart's  engaged- 
ness  in  worship.  Oh,  when  shall  I  experience  the  love  of 
Christ  shed  abroad  in  my  heart." 

"  Sabbath  evening,  Feb.  9th. — On  Friday  morning  last 
at  about  4  o'clock,  we  experienced  the  shock  of  an  earth- 
quake so  violent,  that  the  shaking  of  the  house  and 
beds  awoke  and  alarmed  me  so  much  that  I  rose  hastily  and 
ran  down  stairs — looked  up  to  the  heavens — the  thought 
of  one  day  seeing  my  Saviour  come  in  the  clouds  immedi- 
ately occurred  to  me.  I  scarcely  knew  my  own  feelings. 
I  thought  that  if  I  should  really  see  Him  coming,  that  the 
idea  of  being  separated  from  Him  would  be  insupportable; 
yet  felt  and  do  feel  so  much  unworthiness  that  it  seems 
impossible  for  me  to  apply  his  promises  to  myself  and  rest 
upon  them.  I  cannot  come  to  God  pleading  and  relying 
unreservedly  on  his  atoning  blood  for  pardon  and  accept- 
ance, though  I  plead  nothing  but  the  free  mercy  of  God, 
and  to  be  enabled  to  come  in  this  way.  I  do  not  perfectly 
know  my  own  feelings  concerning  the  matter.  I  think 
to-day  I  felt  my  inability  to  believe  unreservedly  in  Christ, 
and  to  come  in  this  way  more  sensibly  than  ever  before, 
while  reading  Boston's  Four-fold  State.  I  feel  my  weakness 
more  than  my  unworthiness.  Oh  pride,  wilt  thou  never 
forsake  me  ?  What  have  I  to  be  proud  of?  But  alas  !  my 
past  sins  and  present  imperfections  are  or  should  be  suffi- 
cient to  humble  me ;  but  my  heart  seems  insensible,  so 
little  delighting  in  devotion,  so  cold  and  ungrateful  towards 
my  God  and  Saviour,  and  so  little  concerned  with  the  great 
interests  of  eternity.  But  I  endeavor  to  put  my  trust  in 
the  promises  of  God,  and  to  wait  for  the  assistance  of  his 
grace.  Dr.  Hoge  preached  an  excellent  sermon  to-day, 
and  this  evening  in  the  society  made  some  very  edifying 
and  comforting  reflections,  and  I  never  saw  any  man  pray 
equal  to  him.  Oh  happy  man  !  he  appears  to  possess  the 
most  meekness  of  any  man  I  ever  saw.  There  was  one 
reflection  particularly  which  appeared  to  comfort  me.  It 
was  this :    '  If  any  person  really  wishes  to  go  to  Heaven, 


46  MEMOIR    OF 

Boston's  Fourfold  Slate.  t»g  Treatise. 

and  makes  use  of  proper  means  to  get  there,  we  have 
reason  to  believe  that  the  mercy  of  God  will  be  sufficient 
for  him.' " 

"  Sabbath  evening,  Feb.  16th. — I  think  I  have  lately  had 
a  clearer  view  of  the  hardness  of  my  heart  and  inv  inability 
to  do  anything  to  divine  acceptance,  and  of  my  absolute 
dependence  on  grace  to  sanctify  my  nature,  to  give  me  a 
tender  heart,  heavenly  affections,  and  to  preserve  me  from 
final  impenitency,  than  usual.  My  heart  seems  so  surpris- 
ingly insensible  and  cold  towards  my  Almighty  Benefactor, 
so  destitute  of  heavenly  affections,  so  unable  to  meditate 
profitably,  to  realize  eternal  things;  have  not  as  yet  been 
favored  with  any  uncommon  views  of  the  fulness  of  Christ, 
and  am  so  unable  to  apply  his  merits  to  myself  and  place  all 
dependence  on  them  ;  in  short,  I  am  completely  dependent 
on  the  free  grace  of  God  to  make  me  a  Christian  indeed." 

"Sabbath  evening,  Feb. 23d,  181"2. — In  reading  Boston's 
Four-fold  State  I  have  been  led  to  doubt  whether  or  not  I 
have  ever  experienced  a  saving  change ;  the  hardness  and 
ingratitude  of  my  heart,  ignorance  of  God,  of  the  fulness 
tli at  is  in  Jesus  Christ,  and  of  my  guilt,  all  these  things 
serve  to  disquiet  me,  (though  I  seem  to  be  strangely  inat- 
tentive and  unimpressed  with  the  vast  concerns  of  eternity.) 
Though  at  times  the  difficulties  that  lie  in  the  way  of 
becoming  a  real  Christian  appear  formidable  when  I  feel 
my  inabilitv  to  do  any  thing  good,  yet  I  endeavor  to  commit 
my  soul  to  the  Lord,  and  to  wait  in  the  use  of  appointed 
means  for  the  accomplishment  of  his  promises  to  me." 

"  Tuesday,  March  ~2ith. — In  reading  a  treatise  of  Scott's 
concerning  the  nature  of  repentance,  regeneration,  &x.  my 
mind  was  considerably  relieved  of  those  disquieting  doubts 
and  fears  about  my  spiritual  state.  The  principal  cause  of 
my  remaining  doubts  are,  the  scanty  views  I  have  of  the 
odiousness  of  sin ;  little  hatred  of  it  and  little  love  of  holi- 
ness;  and  I  fear  that  I  have  not  sufficiently  seen  my  need 
of  Christ,  nor  the  excellence  of  his  character,  and  that  he 
is  not  sufficiently  precious  to  me,  and  it  seems  so  difficult  for 
me  to  rely  as  entirely  as  I  ought  on  him  for  salvation  and 
acceptance.  On  Sunday  evening  last  I  had  an  awful  view 
of  the  danger  of  unconverted  sinners,  and  feel  very  solici- 
tous to  be  guided  in  the  path  of  salvation,  to  be  preserved 
from  deceiving  myself  and  from  being  hardened." 


WILLI  AM    C.    WALTON.  47 


Temptation  to  levity.  His  sensitiveness. 

By  thus  consulting  the  simple  record  of  his  early  experi- 
ence, we  shall  he  hetter  ahle,  when  brought  to  the  conclusion 
of  his  earthly  career,  to  compare  the  slender  attainments  of 
the  babe  in  Christ,  with  the  abundant  acquisitions  and 
finished  character  of  him,  who  has  '  come  unto  the  meas- 
ure of  the  stature  of  the  fulness  of  Christ,'  and  thus  proved 
that  '  the  path  of  the  just  is  as  the  shining  light,  that 
shineth  more  and  more  unto  the  perfect  day.' 

Sabbath  evening,   May  31. — Last  Wednesday   week,  I 

went  to  Mr.  L 's.     Nearly  all  the  time  that  I  was  there, 

they  had  company.  Much  levity  indeed  was  in  all  the  con- 
versation of  this  company.  They  were  very  wealthy.  Such 
company  was  very  unfavorable  to  me,  whose  disposition  is 
naturally  so  proud.  It  really  seemed  as  if  I  was  more 
solicitous  to  make  a  good  appearance  before  them,  (espe- 
cially to  appear  smart,)  than  to  please  God,  or  seek  pleas- 
ure in  Him.  Notwithstanding  my  aggravated  transgres- 
sions, through  the  mercy  of  God  I  arrived  safe  home  on 
Thursday  last.  My  affections  have  been  very  cold  at  times 
since,  and  I  hope  that  it  will  teach  me  in  future  to  keep  a 
strict  watch  over  my  heart,  go  where  I  may,  for  it  is  only 
acting  cruelly  to  myself  to  neglect  it." 

The  resolution  of  the  Psalmist  is  too  little  heeded  by 
Christians,  '  I  will  take  heed  to  my  ways,  that  I  sin  not 
with  my  tongue.  I  will  keep  my  mouth  with  a  bridle, 
while  the  wicked  is  before  me.'  The  precept  should  never 
be  forgotten  to  '  walk  in  wisdom  towards  them  that  are 
without.' 

"  Sabbath,  June  Z8th. — Fruit  being  plenty,  I  have  several 
times  lately  indulged  myself  too  much  in  eating  it,  and 
thereby  my  mind  has  been  perplexed.  I  am  more  and  more 
convinced  that  my  own  reason  and  resolution  are  altogether 
insufficient  to  resist  temptation,  and  without  the  aid  of  the 
Divine  Spirit  to  qualify  me  for  the  duties  of  life,  for  the 
ministry,  I  am  undone.  I  have  so  many  temptations,  and  I 
fall  into  so  many  sins,  that  I  fear  I  shall  bring  injury  to  the 


48  MEMOIItOF 


Strong  emotions.  Fasting.  Yin  ■  it  Sacrament. 

cause  of  religion."  The  time  of  the  Christian  pilgrims, 
sojourn  must  indeed  be  '  passed  in  fear,'  and  '  whether  he 
eats  or  drinks,  or  whatever  he  doeth,  he  shall  do  all  to  the 
glory  of  God.' 

"Sabbath  July  19th. — Last  Sabbath  week,  I  had  not 
prepared  for  our  praying  society,  hut  while  I  was  praying, 
my  affections  became  excited  to  as  great  a  degree  as  they 
ever  were  on  a  sacramental  occasion.  At  first  I  gave  way 
to  them  a  little,  but  they  soon  became  so  violent,  that  when 
I  wished  to  restrain  them,  I  could  not  do  it.  I  cannot 
but  hope  it  was  of  some  advantage  tome,  although  I  believe 
they  were  not  produced  by  a  deep  sense  of  sin,  or  great 
love  to  God,  but  for  some  time  before,  I  had  been  cold  and 
insensible,  and  that  evening  had  been  out  at  prayer  in  the 
woods,  and  was  there  somewhat  affected  by  reflecting  on 
my  coldness,  my  sins,  and  the  little  degree  of  vital  religion 
that  I  seemed  to  possess,  which  I  hoped  stirred  me  up  a 
little.  But  notwithstanding  the  height  of  my  affections 
while  at  prayer,  my  heart  was  surprisingly  disengaged,  as  is 
usually  the  case  with  me  when  I  pray  in  public." 

It  has  doubtless  been  seen  that  the  experience  here  record- 
ed, is  that  of  a  young  Christian,  whose  heart  needed  yet  to 
be  '  established  with  grace,'  whose  christian  character  was 
indeed  in  the  forming  state. 

"  Snbbath,  Aug.  2. — Last  Thursday  I  observed  the  Fast 
appointed  by  the  General  Assembly.  It  was  the  first  time  I 
ever  fasted  on  a  day  appointed  by  myself  or  the  Church, 
but  I  have  sometimes  denied  myself  the  ordinary  meals. 
However,  such  is  the  advantage  that  I  think  I  derive  from 
these  exercises,  especially  self-examination,  that  I  intend 
with  divine  assistance  to  observe  these  duties  in  future,  at 
least  once  in  two  months.  Rebellious  and  proud  thoughts 
very  seldom  arise  in  my  heart  now,  when  I  read  or  think  of 
the  humility  of  Christ,  and  his  character  while  on  earth, 
but  I  hope  I  begin  to  see  more  of  his  excellency,  and  that 
my  soul  has  generally  been  in  a  better  frame  for  a  short 
time  past,  than  ever  before  for  the  same  length  of  time." 

"  Sabbath,  Aug.  23,  1812. — Last  Sabbath  I  received  the 
sacrament  at  Briery.     I  had  a  comforting  view  of  the  free 


WILLIAM     C.     WALTON.  49 

Conflicts.  Triumphs.  Tries  to  do  pood. 

mercies  of  God  in  Christ,  and  thought  at  one  time  I  felt  the 
love  of  Christ  constraining  me  to  forsake  sin;  but  have 
never  felt  so  deep  a  sense  of  my  guilt,  and  of  the  exceeding 
sinfulness  of  sin  as  I  wish  to  feel.  I  am  still  surrounded 
by  temptations,  and  it  seems  as  if  my  resolutions  were  of  no 
account  whatever."  He  alludes  to  the  fact  of  the  abund- 
ance of  fruit  that  year,  his  own  fondness  for  it,  and  the 
danger  to  which  he  was  exposed  of  exceeding  the  bounds  of 
moderation.  Upon  this  subject  he  seems  to  have  been  very 
sensitive. 

"Nov.  1. — While  I  was  on  a  visit  to  my  brother's,  a 
considerable  part  of  the  time  my  mind  was  in  an  uncom- 
fortable state ;  I  was  remiss,  and  temptations  assailed  me 
almost  continually.  My  sins  and  short-comings  were 
numerous,  but  when  the  day  arrived  for  the  administration 
of  the  sacrament  at  Richmond,  I  felt  in  a  considerable 
degree  my  weakness,  unworthiness,  and  dependence  on 
divine  grace,  and  I  trust  it  was  a  profitable  communion  to 
me,  and  also  that  at  Goochland.  Blessed  be  God,  I  trust 
he  has  not  forsaken  me.  I  feel  now  somewhat  quickened, 
and  enjoy  a  more  comfortable  hope  of  an  interest  in  Christ 
than  ever  I  have  before." 


The  preceding  extracts  will  afford  the  reader  some  Idea 
of  the  general  state  of  our  friend's  mind  in  this  early  period 
of  his  religious  experience.  He  seems  to  have  toiled  along 
amid  many  doubts  and  fears,  yet  still  resolved  to  press 
toward  the  heavenly  mark ;  and  without  much  assistance 
from  Christian  friends,  or  much  new  light  poured  into  his 
mind,  to  have  been  silently  preparing  for  future  usefulness. 
Occasionally  too,  he  endeavored  to  do  good  to  those  around 
him.  Under  date  Jan.  17,  1813,  he  speaks  of  a  "  society 
formed  for  the  education  of  the  blacks,"  at  which  he  exhort- 
ed, though  embarrassed  by  the  presence  of  the  whites.  It 
was  very  natural  for  him  to  take  so  exalted  and  impressive  a 
theme,  as  that  in  the  twenty-seventh  chapter  of  Matthew, 
in  reference  to  which,  he  says  that  he  "  expatiated  on  the 
sufferings  of  Christ,  which  was  the  subject  that  Jirst  roused 
5 


50  MEMOIR     OF 


Labors  abroad.  Deliverance  in  answer  to  prayer. 

my  attention  to  religion,"    adding  with  solemn  emphasis, 

"  IT  IS  DIFFICULT  TO  FELL  THE   WORTH  OF  THE  SOUL." 

The  following  week,  in  company  with  two  friends,  he 
attended  a  meeting  at  Buffalo  meeting  house,  where  there  was 
some  special  attention  to  religion.  Ahout  twenty-five  had 
professed  to  be  converted.  "  All  three  of  us  exhorted,  but  I 
think  I  was  a  little  imprudent  to  attempt  it  before  such  a 
large  audience,  some  well  informed  even,  when  I  was  not 
prepared.  I  hope,  however,  I  have  been  much  benefitted 
by  going  up.  My  desires  for  a  revival  of  religion  have 
considerably  increased.  I  think  I  exercised  faith  in  prayer 
for  it,  if  I  ever  did  before." 

"  March  23. — Several  days  ago  I  was  greatly  troubled 
with  vain  and  sinful  thoughts,  even  in  lime  of  wor- 
ship. This  continued  about  two  or  three  days,  until 
one  evening  I  prayed  earnestly  to  be  delivered  from  them, 
and  to  be  enabled  to  meditate  to  advantage.  In  a  short 
time,  I  felt  a  sensible  deliverance  and  change.  My  mind 
became  more  fixed  and  composed,  and  I  have  since  enjoy- 
ed more  liberty  in  prayer.  Since  I  embraced  religion,  my 
mind  has  been  often  much  harrassed  and  perplexed  about 
eating.  Not  long  since,  this  was  the  case,  and  my  affec- 
tions appeared  to  be  in  too  great  a  degree  placed  on  the 
enjoyments  of  the  world,  but  I  trust  1  have  been  in  some 
degree  delivered  from  this  evil."  *  *  * 

This  thought  is  worthy  of  serious  consideration.  There 
is,  even  in  the  Church,  less  of  this  subjugation  of  the  appe- 
tite than  may  be  supposed.  If  some  good  men  do  not  "live 
to  eat,"  they  eat  more  than  is  necessary  to  live  in  comfort, 
health  and  usefulness.*     Perhaps  the  strong  expression  that 


*The  celebrated  epigram,  composed  by  Doddridge,  and  praised  by  Johnson,  will  lure 
occur  to  the  mind  of  the  reader  : 


WILLIAM     C.     WALTON.  51 

Indulgence  of  appetite.  Various  emotions. 

"  most  men  dig  their  graves  with  their  teeth,"  has  in  it 
more  of  truth,  and  less  of  hyperbole  than  is  imagined. 
How  many  men  have  clouded  their  intellect,  debilitated 
their  energies,  impaired  their  spirituality,  and  abridged 
their  usefulness  by  too  free  indulgence  in  the  pleasures  of 
the  table  !  If  Walton's  temptation  arose  from  this  quarter, 
it  was  met  with  promptitude  and  resisted  with  success,  for 
during  all  my  acquaintance  with  him,  he  seemed  peculiarly 
abstemious,  and  disliked  to  be  subjected  to  the  inflictions 
of  that  politeness,  which  is  continully  urging  you  to  "take 
a  little  more."  * 

"  Saturday  evening,  April  23. — I  have  this  day  paid 
considerable  attention  to  self-examination,  during  the 
course  of  which  sometimes,  very  uncomfortable  doubts 
would  arise,  which  proceeded,  I  believe,  principally  from 
the  scantiness  of  my  views  of  the  evil  and  desert  of  sin; 
of  the  sincerity  and  depth  of  my  repentance.  *         * 

I  think  I  do  feel  a  desire  to  be  delivered  from  all  sin,  and 
be  devoted  unreservedly  to  Him,  who  died  for  me.  Just 
before  I  commenced  writing  this,  I  felt,  and  do  still  feel  as 
if  I  should  have  taken  great  pleasure  to  be  with  Christ  as 
his  Apostles  were,  and  hear  him  converse,  notwithstanding 
his  destitute  situation." 

"June  13. — While  on  my  visit  to  Winchester,  I 
was  in  an  almost  continual  conflict  with  temptation. 
Never,  that  I  know  of,  had  I  to  struggle  so  much  against 
pride  and  vanity.  There  were  many  things  calculated  to 
excite  the  emotions  in  a  corrupt  heart,  and  I  yielded  too 
much  to  them.  How  did  the  company  and  the  business  I 
had  to  perform  unfit  me  for  devotion,  and  banish  at  times  the 


"  Live  while  you  live,"  the  epicure  would  Bay, 
"  And  seize  the  pleasures  of  the  present  day." 
"Live  while  you  live,"  the  sacred  preacher  cries, 
"  And  give  to  God  each  moment  as  it  flies." 
"  Lord,  in  my  view    let  both  united  be, 
1  live  in  pleasure,  when  I  live  to  Thee." 

*  A  worthy  clergyman  in  the  Presbyterian  Church,  settled  for  a  quarter  of  a  century 
atnon»  a  polite  and  hospitable  people,  when  pressed  to  partake  of  the  luxuries  of  the 
dessert,  would  always  reply,  "  iVo,  I  thank  you,  I  have  dined." 


52  MEMOIR     OF 


V  ictnry  over  the  flesh.  Vanity. 

thoughts  of  God  and  religion  from  my  mind  !  How  astonish- 
ing is  the  mercy  of  God,  that  he  has  not  entirely  left  me 
to  perish  in  my  sins!  But  thanks  he  to  his  name,  that  I 
have  reason  to  believe  He  is  still  with  me,  for  on  my  return, 
I  was  powerfully  tempted  several  times  to  unchastity,* 
but  he  in  his  infinite  mercy  enabled  me  to  overcome 
these  temptations,  alter  discovering  to  me  that  had  I  been 
left  to  myself,  I  should  have  been  overcome." 

"I  fear  I  have  lately  been  making  too  much  provision 
for  the  flesh  to  fulfil  the  lusts  thereof;  that  I  have  not 
observed  that  economy,  which  a  person  in  my  situation 
should  do,  and  that  this  will  make  a  bad  impression  on  the 
minds  of  some  of  my  Christian  acquaintances.  Alas!  I 
have  been  too  vain  of  my  external  appearance  ;  may  God  in 
His 'infinite  mercy  give  me  grace  to  direct  me  how  to  act, 
and  a  heart  to  act  as  becomes  a  disciple  of  Jesus  Christ." 
Who  would  not  reiterate  this  prayer  for  himself.' 

"  July  10. — Not  long  since,  I  learned  that  my  first 
attempt  to  exhort  had  been  blessed  to  the  awakening  of 
one  or  two.  One  has  already  obtained  a  good  hope,  and 
the  other  is  in  a  very  good  way.f     They  were  Mr.  D 's 


*  More  weighty  than  gold  are  tile  following  words  of  a  profound  thinker,  and  a  fear- 
less writer:  '•  When  a  temptation  of  Inst  assaults  thee,  do  not  ,r>M  it  by  heaping  up 
arguments  against  it.  ami  disputing  with  it,  considering  its  offers  and  its  danger,  buxjly 
from  it, that  is,  think  not  at  all  of  it,  lay  aside  all  consideration  concerning  it,  and  turn 
away  from  itby  any  severe  and  laudable  thoughts  ol  business.  St.  Bierom  very  wittily 
r-  proves  the  Gentili  superstition,  which  pictured  the  virgin  deities  aimed  with  a  shield 
and  lance,  as  if  chastity  could  not  be  defended  without  war  and  direct  contention.  No, 
this  enemy  is  to  be  treated  otherwise.  If  you  hear  it  speak,  though  but  to  dispute 
with  it,  it  ruins  you  ;  ami  the  very  arguments  you  go  about  to  answer,  leave  a  relish 
upon  the  tongue.  A  man  may  be  burned  if  he  goes  near  the  fire,  though  but  to  quench 
his  house;  and  by  handling  pitch,  though  but  to  draw  it  from  your  clothes,  you  defile 
your  lingers." — Taylor's  Jlo/ii  Living. 

t  This  style  of  speaking  in  reference  to  the  sinner  in  a  state  of  conviction  was  in 
Walton's  inaturer  years  and  more  extensive  experience,  corrected.     In  the  revival   at 

Pittslield,   in   1821,   among  n y  judicious  and   Weighty   things,  Rev.  Mr.  Netlleton 

said:  "  Christians  often  tell  sinners  to  '  wait  God's  time.'  Now  what  do  you  mean 
by  this?  Do  you  mean  that  God  is  not  ready  ?  What  !  would  you  say  this,  when 
God  says  '  oil  things  ore  ready  P  If  you  mean  that  God  is  not  ready  now,  then  tell 
me  when  He  will  be  ready.  Tell  the  sinner,  if  you  undertake  to  administer  consola- 
tion to  him.  when  Cod's  time  is,  if  it  Is  not  ROW,  Be  careful  how  you  interpose  be- 
tween the  Spirit  of  God  and  the  heart  of  the  sinner.  Never  tell  him  to  be  patient,  to 
wait  God's  time,  unless  you  can  tell  when  that  time  is.  It  will  certainly  never  come, 
so  long  as  the  sinner  remains  in  his  sins,  and  yet  you  tell  him  to  be  patient— to  what  1 


WILLIAM     C.     WALTON.  53 

Caaei  of  aw  okenlng. 

daughters,  one  of  whom  gave  me  this  account.  She  said 
that  she  had  danced  part  of  the  way,  as  she  was  going  to 
Mr.  Baker's,  where  the  society  was  held,  and  was  as  care- 
less as  any  person  ever  was.  Oh  that  1  could  feel  thankful 
to  God,  for  this  instance  of  his  goodness  to  me  !  I  cer- 
tainly do  not  feel  as  I  ought  my  absolute  dependence  on 
the  blessing  of  God  to  enable  me  to  do  any  good.  The 
subject  on  which  I  spoke  was  the  Bufferings  of  Christ, 
which  was  blessed  to  the  awakening  of  my  poor  soul." 

"July  24. — Last  Saturday  1  went,  up  to  Blue  Stone 
Meeting  House,  in  Mecklenburg,  where  there  was  to  be  a 
sacrament  on  the  next  day.  The  evening  on  which  I 
arrived  in  the  neighborhood,  I  exhorted  ;  felt  no  intimida- 
tion after  commencing,  and  spoke  with  considerable  free- 
dom and  ease.  After  I  was  done,  an  aged  Christian,  91 
years  of  age,  came  to  me  deeply  affected,  and  blessed  me, 
which  seemed  to  me  like  a  patriarchal  blessing.  The  next 
morning  I  was  very  much  engaged  in  prayer  ;  shed  tears 
freely;  went  to  the  Church.  No  Minister  except  Mr.  Cur- 
ry, though  Mr.  S.  D.  Hoge  was  expected  ;  after  rising  from 
the  table,  Mr.  Curry  requested  me  to  exhort,  and  for  the 
first  time  in  my  life  I  ascended  the  pulpit  !  There  was  a 
large  audience,  many  of  whom  were  among  the  most 
wealthy,  respectable,  and  enlightened  people  in  the  county. 
I  felt  not  the  least  intimidated,  spoke  with  greater  ease 
than  I  ever  did  before  in  my  life,  was  uncommonly  anima- 
ted, and  words  and  ideas  seemed  to  flow  without  any  diffi- 
culty. I  am  persuaded  that  I  received  assistance  from 
above,  and  have  endeavored  to  give  the  glory  to  God,  and 
since  then  I  have  felt  more  grateful  to  God  than  I  believe  I 
ever  did  before.  The  people,  who  before  had  been  talking 
in  a  very  unbecoming  manner,  now  seemed  all  attention, 
my  address  was  very  unexpected,  and  the  attention  of  the 
people  was  excited  considerably.  I  hope  I  did,  with  the 
blessing  of  God,  some  good,  both  by  speaking,  and  by  my 
example  to  the  young  people,  (of  whom  there  were  many) 


in  his  sins  f  Yes,  and  he  may  be  patient  til!  he  dies,  and  God's  time  will  never  come, 
and  certainly  not  in  hell.  You  encourage  him  in  his  sins.  Sinners  are  told  that  'if 
God  has  begun  a  good  work  in  their  souls,  he  will  carry  it  on.'  Now  I  would  ask  you 
how  you  know  this  1  Bow  do  you  know  He  has  begun  a  good  work  in  the  sinner, 
when  he  is  in  a  state  of  impenitence  and  rebellion  against  God  V  And  with  many 
other  words  of  wisdom  did  he  exhort  the  people  on  that  solemn  night. 

5* 


54  MEMOIR     OP 


rrrscveraniT  in  prayrr. 


for  I  believe  I  was  the  only  young  person  who  communed. 
Both  before  and  afterwards,  I  received  many  marks  of 
esteem  and  friendship  from  the  people,  and  was  requested 
to  go  up  there  again,  but  could  not  promise." 

"Sabbath  evening,  Aug.  30. — For  two  or  three  days  past 
I  have  felt  at  times  very  insensible  ;  have  endeavored  to 
pray  in  this  state  of  mind  ;  but  it  would  be  sometime  before 
I  could  get  engaged  ;  could  find  no  enlargement,  no  access 
to  God;  but  after  continuing  at  prayer  for  some  time,  my 
heart  would  be  touched,  and  the  conclusion  would  be  quite 
encouraging  ;  would  end  in  tears.  But  I  have  deserved  to 
be  abandoned  by  the  Holy  Spirit.  My  prayers  in  the  fam- 
ily are  too  formal.  I  can  scarcely  ever  feel  as  I  ought.  I 
know  it  is  a  privilege  that  I  am  permitted  to  pray  in  the 
family  :  but  alas  !  it  still  appears  to  be  a  cross,  though  not  as 
much  so  as  formerly.  Oh  when  will  God  quicken  my  life- 
less soul ! " 

"  Monday  morning,  Sept.  14. — Well,  the  four  days'  meet- 
ing is  over,  and  I  believe  on  the  whole  it  has  been  profitable 
tome;  but  should  God  enter  into  judgment  with  me  for 
my  sins  and  short-comings,  I  must  perish.  The  pride  of 
my  heart  is  great,  and  I  have  a  great  propensity  to  desire 
the  applause  of  my  fellow  creatures.  But  it  affords  me  sat- 
isfaction to  feel  a  disposition  to  resist  this  pride  and  vain 
glory.  When  I  seriously  reflect,  I  see  that  I  am  an  unwor- 
thy creature,  and  that  I  am  indebted  to  God  for  all  that  I 
am  and  have.     But  how  violently  am  I  tempted  sometimes. 

"  I  am  also  troubled  very  much  with  spiritual  pride — 
wishing  others  to  think  me  very  pious;  often  have  I  tried 
to  shed  tears  when  I  was  not  much  affected;  partly  because 
it  is  agreeable  to  me  when  I  see  others  affected,  and  partly 
that  others  might  see  that  I  was  affected  ;  my  corruptions 
are  many  and  strong,  but  I  think  I  sincerely  desire  to  be 
delivered  from  them,  they  cause  me  so  much  uneasiness." 

"  Sept.  23. — When  called  on  to  pray  in  public,  I  find  in 
me  too  great  a  solicitude  to  make  handsome  prayers,  and 
not  much  to  have  my  heart  engaged  as  it  ought  to  be,  but 
reflecting  on  this  afterwards,  causes  me  much  pain  and  sor- 
row. Nothing  but  divine  grace  can  deliver  me  from  my 
pride,  vanity,  and  love  of  the  applause  of  the  world,  and 
enable  me  to  exhort  and  preach  with  a  single  eye,  to  his 
glory,  and  the  good  of  souls." 


WILLIAM     C.     WALTON.  55 

Vanity  rebuked. 

Mr.  Walton  had  for  some  time  been  visiting  in  the  State 
of  North  Carolina,  where  many  of  the  meetings  above 
mentioned  were  held,  with  so  much  comfort  to  himself  and 
profit  to  those  who  heard  him.  The  influence  of  the  visit 
upon  his  mind  seems,  in  some  respects,  to  have  been  salu- 
tary, and  he  resolved  on  his  return  to  Virginia,  to  devote 
himself  with  a  more  assiduous  zeal  to  the  cause  of  his 
Master.  But  adverse  influences  affected  him.  He  com- 
plains of  having  become  more  worldly  than  usual,  and  of 
having  indulged  in  levity.  On  a  particular  occasion,  at 
Hampden  Sydney,  after  attending  family  worship,  he  fancied 
he  had  made  an  excellent  prayer,  being  uncommonly  fluent, 
but  afterwards  confessed  and  lamented,  that  his  heart  was 
far  from  being  engaged  as  it  should  have  been.  Dr.  H. 
remarked  to  him  there  was  something  unnatural  in  his  man- 
ner, and  gave  him  some  friendly  advice.  By  this  fidelity 
on  the  part  of  his  instructor,  his  spiritual  pride,  to  use  his 
own  language,  "  was  truly  mortified.  It  was  however,  an 
advantage  tome.  He  also  took  up  the  idea,  that  I  thought 
myself  more  of  a  clergyman  than  I  ought,  after  my  return 
from  North  Carolina."  These  things,  with  others,  were 
mentioned  as  faults  in  a  letter  written  by  Dr.  H.  to  Mr.  H. 
of  Winchester,  who  with  Christian  faithfulness  showed 
Walton  the  letter.  "Never,"  says  he,  "  I  believe,  was  I 
more  mortified ;  I  look  upon  it  as  a  just  punishment  for  my 
intellectual  and  spiritual  pride,  which  I  indulged  too  much 
while  in  North  Carolina.  But  these  sinful  emotions  were  a 
source  of  much  pain  to  me."  To  correct  some  mistakes 
into  which  Dr.  H.  had  fallen,  Mr.  W.  says,  "  I  took  the 
liberty  of  answering  his  letter  in  a  manner,  which  will,  I 
hope,  regain  that  esteem,  which  I  had  in  some  degree  lost." 
This  occurrence  seems  to  have  been  the  means  of  develop- 
ing that  simplicity  of  character,  and  frankness  of  disposi- 
tion, which  ever  distinguished  my  lamented  friend.  He 
was  fully  convinced,  that  the  very  flattering  marks  of  regard 


50  MEMOIR     OF 


Traits  of  character  developed.  Summertield. 

bestowed  on  him  while  in  Carolina,  by  injudicious  admirers, 
did  him  injury;  especially,  when  among  those  admirers 
not  the  least  dangerous  were  some  of  the  gentler  sex; 
whose  natural  enthusiasm  of  character  is  easily  awakened 
by  the  spectacle  of  devoted  youthful  piety,  combined  with 
promising  talent,  amenity  of  temper,  and  activity  of  zeal. 
Who  that  knew  the  gentle,  the  lovely,  the  heavenly  minded 
Si  mmkrfield,  could  wonder  at  the  triumphs  of  his  sacred 
eloquence  over  tender  and  susceptible  hearts  ?  Who,  I 
may  add,  could  cease  to  wonder  at  the  apparent  impervi- 
ousness  of  that  extraordinary  youth  to  the  influence  of 
flattery  !  Yet  if  the  eye  could  have  read  the  private  jour- 
nal of  his  soul,  it  might  have  found  there  conflicts  and 
confessions,  like  those  of  other  men,  who  have  lived  near 
to  God,  and  the  nearer  they  lived  to  Him,  the  more  keenly 
detected  the  minutest  deficiencies  of  their  hearts. 

Returning  from  Winchester,  Mr.  Walton  met  with  an 
incident,  which  had  nearly  deprived  him  of  life.  Descend- 
ing a  hill  beyond  Hand's  Ferry,  the  horse  he  was  driving 
being  suddenly  frightened,  ran  furiously  down  the  descent, 
and  as  there  was  a  deep  rut  on  one  side  of  the  road,  and  a 
clump  of  trees  on  the  other,  his  fate  seemed  suspended,  as 
it  were,  between  this  Scylla  and  Charybdis — instant  de- 
struction on  one  side  or  the  other  seeming  certain.  With 
the  calmness  of  a  Christian  he  made  up  his  mind  to  die. 
After  the  carriage  had  been  whirled  about  a  hundred 
yards,  the  left  wheel  was  precipitated  into  the  rut,  dashing 
him  to  the  ground,  and  snapping  asunder  the  axletree,  as 
if  it  had  been  of  the  texture  of  a  tender  reed,  while  the 
disengaged  wheel  ran  over  his  back  and  head,  and  would 
have  completed  the  work  of  destruction,  had  not  those 
parts  of  his  body  providentially  escaped  the  stroke  of  the 
axletree,  and  the  fury  of  the  horse's  feet.  His  head  was 
somewhat  injured,  but  his  arm  was  cut  in  several  pla- 
ces, besides  being  severely  bruised,  and  some  of  his  ribs 


WILLIAM     C.     WALTON.  57 

Narrow  escape  from  death.  His  reflection*  on  tin;  event. 

nearly  broken.  "  How  I  escaped,"  says  he,  "  I  am  utterly 
at  a  loss  to  know,  without  believing  that  those  everlasting 
arms  which  uphold  the  universe,  and  direct  and  control 
all  events,  protected  me.  I  am  astonished  that  I  was  not 
mangled  and  bruised,  yea,  killed  on  the  spot.  But  thanks 
be  to  God,  who  has  lengthened  out  my  space  for  making 
my  calling  and  election  sure.  I  have  since  felt  sensibly 
that  I  am  not  my  own,  and  been  more  disposed  to  devote 
myself  unreservedly  to  the  service  of  God  than  ever  before. 
I  have  seen  clearly  the  vanity  of  every  thing  under  the  sun, 
the  absolute  necessity  of  being  always  prepared  to  meet 
my  God  in  Judgment.  May  He  sanctify  this,  and  all  the 
dispensations  of  his  Providence  to  me." 

Of  his  views  and  feelings  in  the  midst  of  this  danger, 
and  at  a  moment  when  thought  takes  the  swiftness  of  the 
lightning,  we  may  learn  from  himself:  "I  despaired  of 
life ;  I  felt  very  little  alarmed,  and  I  have  a  comfortable 
hope,  that  had  I  been  killed,  I  should  now  have  been 
rejoicing  with  saints  and  angels  in  Heaven.  Thanks  be  to 
God  for  what  He  has  done  for  my  poor  guilty  soul  !  " 

Few  persons  probably  are  accustomed  to  remember,  and 
still  fewer  to  remember  with  gratitude,  their  numerous  and 
narrow  escapes  from  impending  death.*  Safety  excites  no 
emotion,  except  when  in  the  vicinity  of  known  danger. 

The  next  record  we  have  of  personal  feelings  or  passing 
events,  is  dated 

"  Feb.  20,  1814. — Not  long  since  I  began  to  doubt  the 
reality  of  all  my  former  experience,  which  gave  me  con- 
siderable uneasiness ;  but  in  my  most  gloomy  moments  I 
retained  some  hope,  which  afforded  me  comfort.     Yesterday 

evening,   after  having  prayed  in  Capt.  P 's   family,  I 

walked   out.     I  thought  on  my  insincerity,  and  had  such 


*  Bishop  Kemp,  of  Baltimore,  was  killed  in  consequence  of  the  overturning  of  the 
stage  at  the  only  spot  between  New  Castle  and  Frenchtown,  where  such  a  thing  could 
with  any  probability  have  happened.    The  driver  was  said  to  be  intoxicated. 


58  MEMOIR      OF    WALTON. 

A  death-bed  scene. 

a  sense  of  guilt,  that  I  really  had  some  apprehension  that  I 
should  be  struck  dead  ;  perhaps  it  was  one  of  the  best 
worded  prayers  thai  1  ever  pronounced,  but  I  did  not  feel 
the  force  of  m\  own  requests  as  I  oughl ;  it  appeared  more 
like  mockery  than  prayer.  My  only  hope  is  in  the  mercy 
of  God  through  Christ." 

"July  10. —  Lasl  evening  I  witnessed  a  scene  which  has 

made  a  deep  impression  on   my  mind.     Mrs.  F had 

been  in  a  consumptive  way  for  a  long  time;  she  had  also 
been  seeking  religion  for  nearly  a  year,  but  had  not  been 
very  earnestly  engaged  until  within  a  few  weeks  past.     Mr. 

B and  I  visited   her,   conversed  and  prayed  with  her 

almost  every  evening ;  and  I  have  reason  to  believe  that 
God  blessed  these  means  to  her  salvation.  She  was  for 
several  days,  after  I  first  saw  her,  in  much  di-tress.  Last 
Wednesday  evening  week,  she  thought  she  was  about  to 
die.  She  prayed  all  night,  and  until  the  next  day  about  10 
o'clock,    when   she    experienced   a   blessed   change.     She 

rejoiced  with  joy  unspeakable.    She  sent  for  Mr.  B and 

myself,  and  when  she  saw  us,  she  exclaimed,  '  I  have  found 
J(.<u.< !  I  have  found  Jesus  ! '  She  was  as  happy  a  creature 
as  I  ever  saw.  She  retained  her  comfort  to  the  last.  I 
went  over  yesterday  evening  ;  and  when  I  arrived,  she 
appeared  to  be  almost  dead.  1  touched  her  hand  :  she 
opened  her  eyes,  looked  at  me  and  smiled  !  She  reached 
out  her  arms  as  if  she  wished  to  kiss  me.  She  then  said 
( bless  tht  Lord'  several  times,  and  indeed  I  thought  she 
continued  to  repeat  these  words  alter  I  could  not  under- 
stand what  she  said.  She  shortly  after  feel  asleep  in  Jesus, 
and  I  hardly  have  a  doubt  but  that  she  now  is  in  Heaven." 


CHAPTER    IV. 


Danger  of  worldly  influences. 


Of  the  mental  experience  of  Mr.  Walton  during  the  pres- 
ent year,  (1814,)  it  may  be  said,  that  by  peculiar  circumstan- 
ces, some  portion  of  it  was  rendered  somewhat  unprofitable. 
In  years  young,  lie  was  exposed  to  the  temptations  of  youth. 
In  Christian  attainments  recent,  he  was  not  yet  established 
in  the  strength  of  spiritual  manhood.  In  the  principles  of 
future  action  still  unsettled,  he  might  become  the  victim  of 
variable  influences.  With  an  ardent  temperament,  indi- 
genous to  the  clime  in  which  he  was  born,  and  reared,  his 
social  affections  would  naturally  seek  their  appropriate 
object.  And  if  he  did  not  pray  for  impenetrability  to  that 
tender  passion,  from  which  few  are  exempt,  the  probability 
was,  that  its  influence  might  soon  become  too  powerful  to 
be  successfully  resisted. 

For  several  months  he  was  in  an  uncomfortable  frame  of 
mind,  in  consequence  of  yielding  to  a  fascination  of  this 
kind.  Self-complacency,  pride,  love,  a  desire  of  worldly 
applause,  formed  a  kind  of  conspiracy  to  disturb  the  equa- 
nimity of  his  mind,  and  to  divert  the  energies  of  his  soul 
from  the  great  objects  he  had  set  before  himself — personal 
holiness  and  personal  usefulness.  These  things,  says 
he,  "  have  all  combined  to  render  me  very  unhappy  at  times. 
Oh  that  I  could  be  completely  devoted  to  the  service  of  my 


60  MEMOIR    OF 


Wickedness  of  trifling  with  the  feelings  of  either  sex. 


God,  without  having  any  inordinate  desires  to  gain  the  ap- 
plause of  the  world  "  !  Flattered  by  the  kindness  of  the  fe- 
male sex,  he  found  his  mind  too  often  wandering  from  that 
steadiness  of  purpose  in  religion,  without  which,  neither  past 
acquisitions  can  be  retained,  nor  new  conquests  achieved. 
Here  many  a  young  candidate  for  the  holy  ministry  has 
failed.  This  point  cannot  be  guarded  with  a  too  scrupu- 
lous fidelity,  or  a  too  conscientious  care.  There  is  a  spot 
in  this  region,  where  character  has  been  not  only  much  en- 
dangered, but  permanently  injured,  and  even  in  some  cases 
irretrievably  wrecked.  Hopes  cruelly  blasted  on  the  one 
side,  and  engagements  impiously  violated  on  the  other,  have 
left  it  doubtful  whether  more  to  deplore  the  desolations 
wrought  in  affectionate  and  confiding  bosoms,  or  to  detest 
the  duplicity  which  could  thus  trifle  with  the  most  solemn 
vows,  and  trample  on  the  most  tender  and  sacred  emotions. 
The  result  has,  alas!  too  often  been  an  early  grave,  clos- 
ing over  youth,  beauty  and  loveliness,  or  a  lingering  exis- 
tence, passed  in  silent  and  uncomplaining  grief,  embittered 
by  the  recollections  of  the  past,  and  seeking  its  only  solace 
in  the  anticipations  of  the  future.  Hope  beams  in  beauty 
to  the  weeping,  wearied  eye,  and  beckons  the  sufferer  to 
that  better  land  of  which  the  poet  sings : 

"  There  is  a  home  of  peaceful  rest 
To  mourning  wanderers  given  ; 
Tbere  is  a  joy  for  souls  distressed, 
A  halm  for  every  wounded  breast, 
'Tis  found  alone  in  Heaven  !" 

They  find  one  steadfast  friend,  by  whom  no  trust  was  ev- 
er betrayed,  no  sensibilities  ever  mocked,  no  affections  ev- 
er repulsed.  The  '  altogether  lovely  '  is  the  everlastingly 
faithful,     '/will  never  leave  thee,  nor  forsake  thee.' 

This  digression  has  not  been  indulged,  either  because 
there  is  any  evidence  Walton  ever  violated  such  a  pledge, 
or  for  the  sake  of  filling  a  page,  but  because  it  is  my  duty 
to  bear  testimony  against  conduct,  which  in  man  or  woman 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  61 

Confession  ofa  Jesuit. 

is  highly  reprehensible,  in  a  Christian  deeply  disgraceful, 
in  a  Christian  minister  supremely  atrocious.  The  cases 
indeed  are  few  compared  with  those  of  exemplary  fidelity, 
but  far-reaching  in  their  influence,  and  indelible  in  their 
remembrance.  Nor  let  any  one  class,  sex,  or  profession 
boast  over  another.  Tales  of  tragical  import  might  be  told, 
without  leaving  the  territory  of  truth,  to  seek  that  of  fic- 
tion; tales  that  would  bring  some,  eminent  in  political  life, 
into  close  connexion  with  the  anguish  of  the  death  bed,  the 
solemnities  of  the  funeral,  and  the  silence  of  the  grave! 

"Sept.  24. — Lately  my  exercises  have  been  more  comfort- 
able than  usual,  especially  in  prayer  and  meditation.  This 
morning  1  awoke  before  day,*  and  had  some  very  agreeable 
reflections  and  feelings.  I  felt  willing  that  my  Redeemer 
should  have  all  the  glory  of  my  salvation.  I  felt  like  I  would 
submit  to  martyrdom,  rather  than  voluntarily  and  deliber- 
ately violate  one  of  God's  commands." 

"Sept.  '27. — Yesterday  evening  Dr.  H.  observed  tome  that 
he  had  heard  1  was  in  the  habit  of  speaking  in  my  exhorta- 
tions in  a  manner  too  authoritative,  and  also  advised  me 
never  to  counterfeit  feeling  when  I  did  not  feel.  This,  I 
hope,  has  been  of  much  service  to  me,  for  I  have  been  too 
much  lifted  up,  and  had  too  high  an  opinion  of  my  talents. 
My  pride  was  imperceptibly  increasing." 

It  is  related  of  a  Jesuit,  who  was  employed  twenty  years 
in  the  missions  of  Canada,  that  he  privately  confessed  to  a 
friend  the  fact,  that  although  he  did  not  believe  in  the  be- 
ing of  a  God,  he  had  faced  death  twenty  times,  for  the  sake 
of  the  religion  which  he  preached  to  the  natives  with  great 
success.     When  reminded  of  the  inconsistency  of  his  zeal, 


*  A  beautiful  precept  by  one  ofthe  nervous  authors  of  the  17th  century  may  not  be 
out  of  place  here  :  "In  the  morning  when  you  wake,  accustom  yourself  to  thin  k  first 
upon  God,  or  something  in  order  to  his  service  ;  and  at  night  also  let  him  close  thine 
eyes,  and  let  your  sleep  be  necessary  and  healthful,  not  idle  and  expensive  of  time 
beyond  the  needs  and  conveniences  of  nature  ;  and  sometimes  be  curious  to  see  the 
preparation  which  the  sun  makes,  when  lie  is  coming  forth  from  his  chambers  of  the 
East." 

6 


62  MEMOIR    OF 


A  word  to  candidates  for  the  sacred  office. 


"Ah!"  replied  he,  "you  have  no  idea  of  that  pleasure 
which  is  felt  in  commanding  the  attention  of  twenty  thou- 
sand people,  and  in  persuading  then  into  the  belief  of  that 
which  we  ourselves  do  not  believe  !"  How  much  of  the  un- 
hallowed fire  of  ambition  is  mingled  with  the  pure  flame  of 
piety  in  the  bosoms  of  the  ministers  of  the  cross,  the  day  of 
judgment  only  will  disclose.  Let  the  reader  seriously  ex- 
amine whether  he  has  renounced  every  '  hidden  thing  of  dis- 
honesty,' every  step  of  craftiness,  and  every  deceitful  mode 
of  treating  divine  truth. 

The  time  had  now  arrived,  when  young  Walton  was  to  be 
licensed  to  preach  the  gospel ;  a  crisis  replete  with  interest 
to  him  ;  an  event  linked  with  the  destinies  of  immortal  souls; 
a  period  that  would  cast  a  train  of  dread  influences  into 
eternity.  Let  the  candidate  for  this  holy  work  here  pause, 
reflect,  anticipate,  and  pray  that  the  grace  of  God  would 
fit  and  furnish  him  for  that  work,  which  an  angel  might 
love  for  its  holy  pleasures;  covet  for  its  distinguished  hon- 
ors and  everlasting  rewards,  and  fear  for  its  trials,  its  respon- 
sibilities, and,  were  he  human,  for  the  possibility  of  a  failure  ! 
How  can  you  too  much  magnify  the  office  to  which  you  as- 
pire? Let  it  never  appear  little,  nor  ever  be  belittled*  by 
mercenary  views  or  a  prayerlcss  consecration.  '  Seemeth  it 
but  a  small  thing  unto  you,  that  the  God  of  Israel  hath  sep- 
arated you  from  the  congregation  of  Israel  to  bring  you  to 
himself,  to  do  the  service  of  the  tabernacle  of  the  Lord,  and 
to  stand  before  the  congregation  to  minister  unto  them  ? 
And  he  hath  brought  thee  near  to  Him  ? ' 

If  the  Church  should  be  '  without  spot  or  wrinkle,'  what 
should  the  Church's  ministers  be  ?  "  Nothing,"  says  Au- 
gustine, "  is  more  laborious,  more  difficult,  or  more  danger- 
ous than  the  office  of  a  bishop,  or  a  priest,  or  a  deacon,  but 

•Said  Legh  Richmond  :  "The  character  of  a  fashionable  parson  is  my  aversion  ; 
that  of  an  ignorant  or  careless  one,  I  see  with  pity  and  contempt ;  that  of  a  dissipated 
one  with  shame ;  and  that  of  an  unbelieving  one  with  horror !  " 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  63 

What  a  minister  should,  and  should  not  be.  Licensed  to  preach. 

nothing  is  more  blessed,  if  we  push  the  warfare  according  to 
the  commands  of  our  Captain."  A  minister  should  not  be 
like  a  guide  post,  showing  every  one  the  way,  but  not  walk- 
ing in  it  himself;  nor  like  a  clock,  that  keeps  time  regular- 
ly for  others,  but  has  itself  no  sense  of  its  value;  nor  like  a 
bell,  that  rings  all  the  congregation  to  church,  but  takes  no 
interest  in  the  service,  and  tolls  for  the  dead,  but  has  no 
solemn  feelings  about  death.  Rather  should  he  be  like  the 
ancient  shepherd,  who  went  before  the  sheep,  and  instead 
of  driving  them,  persuaded  them  to  follow  him.*  He  should 
be  first  in  every  great  conception  and  in  every  good  work. 
Or  like  the  eagle,  quick-sighted,  muscular,  (in  mind)  strong 
of  pinion,  (Love  and  Hope  are  the  wings  of  the  soul,)  and 
ever  maintaining  a  lofty  flight,  as  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Heaven.  Like  the  eagle, t  too,  he  should  descend  with  sweet 
dignity  to  the  wants  of  the  most  humble,  and  the  weakness 
of  the  most  tender: 

"  Should  try  each  art,  reprove  each  dull  delay, 
Allure  to  brighter  worlds,  and  lead  the  way." 

On  the  twenty-second  of  October,  the  Presbytery  of  Win- 
chester, then  sitting  at  Fredericksburg,  examined  the  can- 
didate under  their  care  in  the  languages,  in  the  sciences, 
and  in  theology.  Being  satisfied  with  his  attainments,  and 
his  qualifications  for  the  work  which  he  sought,  and  espe- 
cially his  capabilities  of  attainment ,  they  proceeded  to  li- 
cense him  to  preach  the  gospel.  He  preached  his  Trial 
Sermon  on  this  occasion,  from  Psalm  ciii.  1  :  Bless  the 
Lord,  O  my  soul,  and  all  that  is  within  me,  bless  his  holy 
name,  and  forget  not  all  his  benefits.  Speaking  of  this  im- 
portant event  he  says  :  "  Although  I  was  far  from  feeling 
as  I  ought  to  have  felt  on  such  an  occasion,  yet  my  exercises 
were  on  the  whole  comfortable,  and  I  hope  profitable.  I  felt 
my  unworthiness  of  a  place  among  the  ministers  of  Jesus 

*  John  x.  4.  t  Deut.  ixxii.  11. 


04  MKMOIR    OF 


Payson'a  remark. 


Christ.  I  was  much  afraid  that  I  should  disgrace  the  sa- 
cred office.  I  felt  sensihly  and  still  feel  my  incompetency 
to  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  a  minister.  I  know  that 
nothing  hut  genuine,  fervent  piety  can  make  me  a  good 
preacher.  rJ'/ii.<  I  am  resolved  to  seek.  I  wish  to  he  com- 
pletely devoted  to  my  Redeemer."  *  *  "I  find  it  dif- 
ficult to  realize  that  I  am  a  preacher.  I  often  forget  it  and 
imagine  myself  nothing  more  than  a  student.  But  I  feel 
determined  with  the  assistance  of  God,  (fori  feel  more  sen- 
sibly than  ever  before,  my  dependence  on  divine  assistance,) 
that  I  will  seek  more  diligently  my  own  salvation,  be  more 
engaged  to  maintain  communion  with  God  and  a  spiritual 
frame  of  mind;  for  I  am  convinced  that  nothing  else  can 
make  me  happy  or  prepare  me  for  preaching  as  I  ought." 

The  beloved  Payson,  at  the  time  of  his  license,  said  that 
he  was  "  almost  discouraged  and  overwhelmed  in  view  of 
his  unfitness  for  the  ministry,"  and  once  he  "  wished  him- 
self any  thing  rather  than  a  minister."  He  could  "  hardly 
conceive  it  possible  that  one  so  inconceivably  vile  should 
be  a  child  of  God,  but  was  nevertheless  helped  to  cast  his 
burden  on  the  Almighty,  and  to  agonize  in  prayer  to  be  de- 
livered from  this  body  of  death."  If  the  reader  will  peruse 
the  fifth  chapter  of  the  Life  of  Payson,  he  will  perceive  a 
striking  similarity  between  his  exercises,  particularly  his 
temptations,  and  those  of  our  friend,  who  held  in  pious  and 
profound  veneration  that  character,  which  has  become  the 
sacred  property  of  the  Church. 

"  Nov.  30. — This  day  was  appointed  by  the  General  As- 
sembly of  the  State  and  the  Synod  of  Virginia,  a  fast.  I 
often  feel  a  reluctance  against  engaging  in  such  self-de- 
nying duties,  and  against  seasons  of  extraordinary  devotion. 
This  I  know  is  wrong.  It  arises  from  the  carnality  of  my 
mind,  and  I  am  determined  in  future,  to  observe  these  sea- 
sons more  frequently  than  I  have  hitherto  done,  and  to  pay 
more  attention  to  self-examination.  This  day  I  have  felt 
the  happy  effects  of  fasting,  meditation,  &ic."     "  My  mind 


WILLIAM     C.     WALTON.  65 

New  Year's  reflections. 

has  been  unusually  affected  by  a  sense  of  my  obligations  to 
the  Saviour  ;  the  idea  of  dying  that  I  might  be  with  him  and 
sin  no  more,  and  that  I  might  love  him  as  he  ought  to  be 
loved,  was  uncommonly  pleasing." 

Thus  was  the  year  1814  closed,  with  solemn  varieties  of 
experience,  with  acknowledgments  to  God  for  mercies, 
with  many  complaints  and  self-reproaches,  but  with  some 
advances  too.  it  is  believed,  in  the  great  object  of  human 

life THE  ATTAINMENT  OF  LIKENESS  TO  GOD.  • 

As  the  New  Year  opened  upon  him,  he  naturally  took  a 
retrospect  of  that  which  had  gone  before. 

"  'Tis  greatly  wise  to  talk  with  our  past  honra, 
And  ask  them  what  report  Uey've  borne  to  Heaven." 

"  Jan.l,  1815. — I  have  reason  to  sink  in  the  lowest  abase- 
ment of  soul,  upon  a  retrospect  of  the  year  that  is  now  past. 
How  numerous  have  been  the  sins,  short-comings  and  im- 
perfections of  the  past  year !  What  inconsiderable  advan- 
ces have  I  made  in  the  christian  life!  How  lukewarm 
have  I  been !  How  little  have  I  done  for  that  Redeemer 
who  has  done  so  much  for  me  !  How  ungrateful  have  I 
been  !  How  have  I  abused  the  mercies  of  God!  It  is  ow- 
ing to  his  astonishing  goodness  and  forbearance  that  I  now 
live,  that  I  am  not  now  in  hell."  Amen!  will  be  the  soul- 
felt  response  of  every  redeemed  sinner !  "  Many  are  the 
mercies  which  I  have  received  during  the  past  year.  I  feel 
determined,  with  the  assistance  of  God,  to  be  more  engaged 
in  religion  than  I  have  ever  yet  been." 

"Jan.  16. — I  have  this  evening  been  reading  Spencer's  life. 
Wonderful  youth  !  O  that  God  would  be  mercifully  pleased 
abundantly  to  bless  his  example  to  me !  I  never  felt  so 
great  a  desire  to  be  humble,  and  to  be  devoted  entirely  to 
the  service  of  my  Redeemer.  I  never  so  ardently  longed  to 
be  holy;  to  have  the  love  of  God  shed  abroad  in  my  soul, 
and  to  be  animated  with  an  ardent  zeal  for  the  glory  of 
God  and  the  salvation  of  sinners,  as  I  have  this  evening. 

6* 


66  MEMOIR    OP 


First  eany  at  preaching. 


I  hope  my  pride,  my  desire  of  human  applause,  have  receiv- 
ed a 'deadly  blow." 

"Feb.  L2. — I  have  lately  been  considerably  indisposed,  and 
as  diseases  are  now  so  fatal  and  rapid  in  their  progress,  my 
attention  was  a  good  deal  excited  to  eternal  things.  I  nev- 
er realized  death  so  near,  as  I  thought  it  probably  might 
be  last  Wednesday.  I  thought  much  on  the  troubles, 
which  I  might  calculate  on  experiencing  in  this  life,  and  on 
the  blessedness  of  Heaven.  Such  reflections  reconciled  my 
mind  to  death;  indeed  sometimes  I  felt  it  would  be  a 
desirable  thing  to  die.  But  still  I  felt  a  desire  to  promote 
the  interests  of  the  church  on  earth;  a  desire  to  be  useful 
as  a  preacher  before  I  died,  and  a  desire  to  live  to  be  a  com- 
fort to  my  mother.  I  endeavored,  however,  to  trust  the 
disposal  of  my  fate  into  the  hands  of  God,  and  from  my 
present  feelings,  I  am  disposed  to  think  it  is  his  design  that 
I  shall  not  die,  but  live  and  declare  his  wonderful  works  and 
his  loving  kindness  to  the  children  of  men." 

"Feb.  18. — Saturday  Evening. — I  this  day  preached  at 
College  for  the  first  time.  I  was  not  much  embarrassed, 
but  felt  very  much  out  of  the  spirit  of  preaching.  I  was 
under  the  impression,  all  the  time  I  was  preaching,  that 
none  of  the  hearers  felt  a  word  that  I  said.  It  appeared  to 
me  that  it  only  touched,  as  it  were,  the  surface,  and  did  not 
go  skin  deep.  I  felt  much  mortified,  and  doubtful  whether 
I  should  attempt  it  again  at  this  place.  To  my  surprise, 
however,  I  was  told  by  one  of  my  friends  that  it  was  an  an- 
imating sermon,  by  another  that  it  was — but  I  will  not  re- 
peat his  flattering  encomium.  At  fi*rst  I  thought  it  too  weak 
to  hurt,  but  it  often  occurs  to  me,  and  sometimes  excites  my 
vanity  a  little!  May  divine  grace  deliver  me  from  pride, 
that  abominable  thing  which  God  hates,  and  which  I  think 
I  hate." 

Payson,  after  the  delivery  of  his  first  sermon,  writes  thus  : 
"  Felt  thankful  it  was  rainy.  There  were  very  few  people 
at    meeting,   and  I   just   got    through    without   stopping.* 


*  Legh  Richmond's  first  attempt  to  preach  titcinpore,  to  a  small  comrregation,  too, 
was  a  total  failure.  "  lie  was  so  ashamed  of  it,"  said  a  friend,  "  that  be  declared  lio 
would  no!  repeal  the  attempt,  and  it  was  only  in  consequence  of  the  urgent  Bolicitar 
Hone  of  a  friend,  Rev.  Charles  Hoyle,  that  he  was  induced  to  make  asecond  trial, 
when  he  succeeded  heyond  his  hopes,  and  never  afterwards  found  anydHlu.iilly." 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  67 

Character  of  apostolic  preaching. 

Spoke  too  fast  and  too  low.  Was  a  good  deal  depressed  af- 
ter meeting.  In  the  afternoon  did  a  little  better,  but  still 
bad  enough."*  And  this  was  the  eloquent  being,  who  held 
captive  at  his  lips  the  wondering  audiences  that  thronged  to 
hear  and  be  saved ;  who  by  the  magic  of  his  sacred  ora- 
tory drew  from  unwonted  eyes  the  silent  tear ;  by  the  maj- 
esty of  the  truths  which  came  from  his  soul,  redolent  with 
the  baptism  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  humbled  the  brow  of  pride, 
and  called  reluctant  groans  from  the  depths  of  broken  hearts  ! 
What  execution  can  be  done  by  a  polished  shaft  from  the 
quiver  of  God ! 

It  reminds  us  of  the  glowing  picture,  drawn  by  the  hand 
of  a  master,  so  distinguished  for  his  skill  in  moral  painting, 
that  it  is  unnecessary  to  write  his  name  under  the  portrait 
He  is  delineating  the  grace  of  God  as  exemplified  in  the 
primitive  apostles  :  "  He  bestowed  upon  them  the  elements 
of  Heaven's  heroism,  when  he  took  from  them  the  elements 
of  earth's  heroism.  It  was  spiritual  work  they  had  to  do ; 
therefore  he  disembodied  and  spiritualized  the  men  who 
were  to  do  it.  It  was  faith  they  had  to  plant ;  therefore  he 
made  his  missionaries  men  of  faith,  that  they  might  plant 
faith,  and  faith  alone.  They  had  to  deliver  nations  from 
the  idolatry  of  the  gold  and  the  silver;  therefore  he  took 
care  his  messengers  should  have  none.  They  had  to  deliv- 
er them  from  the  idolatry  of  wisdom;  therefore  he  took  care 
they  should  be  foolish.  They  had  to  deliver  them  from  the 
idolatry  of  power;  therefore  he  took  care  they  should  be 
weak.  They  had  to  deliver  them  from  that  of  fame  and 
reputation  ;  therefore  he  took  care  they  should  be  despised ; 
from  the  idolatry  of  things  that  are  ;  therefore  he  took  care 
that  they  should  be  as  things  that  afe  not ;  making  them,  in 
all  respects,  types  and  representatives  of  the  ritual  they  were 
to  establish  ;  models  of  the  doctrine  which  they  went  forth 
to  teach.     We  are  not  to  take  their  distinction  by  the  grade 

*  Chap.  vi.  of  Life. 


63  MEMOIR    OF 


Letter  to  Dr.  Hill. 


of  intellect  or  of  taste,  which  compose,  even  at  the  best,  but  a 
fractionary  part  of  human  nature,  and  may  exist  in  strength, 
surrounded  with  the  most  dwarfish  and  pestilent  forms  of 
the  moral,  social,  and  spiritual  man." 

So  should  all  preachers  go  forth,  "  not  feeding  the  peo- 
ple with  colocynths  and  gourds,  with  gay  tulips  and  useless 
daffodils,  but  with  the  bread  of  life,  and  medicinal  plants, 
springing  from  the  margin  of  the  fountains  of  salvation." 

The  following  letter  to  Dr.  Hill,  was  written  about  this 
time : 

Hampden  Sydney,  Feb.  24,  1815. 

"Reverend  and  Dear  Sir, — This  session  is  now  pretty  far 
advanced,  and  really  I  shall  rejoice  at  its  termination;  for 
it  will,  I  hope,  be  the  termination  of  my  mathematical  stud- 
ies. Perhaps  you  will  say  that  this  is  an  unfavorable  symp- 
tom ;  that  it  indicates  a  want  of  something  which  I  ought 
to  possess.  But  I  cannot  help  it.  I  never  had  much  taste 
for  the  mathematics;  nor  do  T  feel  any  ambition  to  distin- 
guish myself  as  a  great  mathematician.  I  believe,  howev- 
er, that  the  study  of  such  abstract  sciences  gives  to  the 
mind  a  degree  of  vigor  which  it  could  acquire  in  no  other 
way.  It  is  from  this  belief  that  I  am  willing  to  attend  to 
them.  But  still  I  cannot  suppress  an  anxious  desire  to  get 
through  them,  and  to  be  engaged  in  studies  more  conge- 
nial to  my  taste.  Next  session  I  shall  attend  to  Natural  Phi- 
losophy, the  second  Vol.  of  Smith's  Lectures,  Logic,  Histo- 
ry and  Chronology.  Thin,  I  shall  be  at  liberty  to  read 
what  I  please,  and  to  write  as  much  as  I  please;  and  Oh 
how  delightfully  will  my  time  pass  away  !  I  shall  enjoy  a 
continual  intellectual  feast. 

I  have  lately  had  some  symptoms  of  the  prevailing  epi- 
demic. For  several  days  1  was  constantly  expecting  that 
swelling  in  the  throat,  which  has  proved  fatal  to  so  many  in 
this  country.  I  never  realized  death  so  near  as  I  then 
thought  it  was.  At  first  it  wore  a  terrific  aspect,  and  1  shrunk 
back  from  the  gloomy  prospect.  But  my  fears  were  soon 
calmed;  my  mind  became  tranquil;  and  trusting  in  Him 
who  strengthens  the  weak,  in  Hiin  whose  merits  have,  I 
humbly  hope,  procured  my  pardon  and  restored  me  to  the 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  09 

Letter  to  Dr.  Hill. 

favor  of  my  offended  Maker,  I  sometimes  felt  like  I  could 
pass  through  the  dark  valley  and  shadow  of  death,  without 
fear,  nay,  with  joy  and  triumph.  The  idea  of  being  deliv- 
ered from  the  numerous  trials  and  afflictions  of  this  life,  hut 
especially  of  being  delivered  from  the  body  of  sin,  and  of 
being  admitted  into  the  society  of  the  blessed  above,  of  be- 
holding that  dear  Redeemer  whose  glories,  though  seen  as 
through  a  glass  darkly,  have  excited  the  warmest  affections 
of  my  soul,  was  truly  animating.  But  then  I  thought  of 
my  aged  mother ;  thought  of  the  effect  which  my  death 
would  probably  have  on  her.  The  thought  affected  my 
heart,  and  I  prayed  to  the  Almighty  to  spare  me.  I  also 
felt  a  wish  to  live,  in  order  that  I  might  be  instrumental  in 
promoting  the  interests  of  Zion,  in  advancing  the  glory  of 
that  Saviour  who  has  done  so  much  for  me.  But  I  do  not 
know  that  I  felt  any  degree  of  anxiety  to  live  for  the  sake 
of  any  earthly  enjoyments.  I  begin  to  view  this  world 
with  new  eyes.  It  now  appears  to  me  in  a  very  different 
point  of  view  from  what  it  formerly  did.  I  now  see  that  he 
who  expects  from  it  much  happiness,  will  be  most  miser- 
ably disappointed.  I  am  more  and  more  convinced  that 
the  only  way  to  enjoy  true  peace  and  solid  comfort,  is  to 
live  near  to  God,  in  a  state  of  habitual  preparation  for  death 
and  eternity.  May  God  grant  that  we  may  enjoy  this  peace, 
this  comfort,  this  joy  unspeakable! 

Through  the  unmerited  mercies  of  God,  I  am  now  in 
tolerably  good  health,  and  have  resumed  my  studying  cap; 
for  I  had  to  lay  it  aside  for  two  or  three  days,  which  to  me 
was  a  serious  affliction.  Thanks  to  the  Father  of  mercies, 
and  to  my  friends  as  his  instruments,  for  all  that  happiness 
which  I  have  derived  from  study,  and  for  the  delightful  pros- 
pects which  now  begin  to  open  to  my  view.  Many  agreea- 
ble hours  I  spend  in  writing  sermons  ;  and  I  find  increasing 
pleasure  in  proclaiming  the  glorious  gospel  of  the  blessed 
God  to  poor  perishing  sinners.  Pray  for  me,  my  beloved 
friend  and  father ;  pray  that  God  may  give  me  a  mouth  and 
wisdom  to  confound  the  enemies  of  the  Cross  of  Christ,  and 
to  speak  a  word  in  season  to  every  character  whom  I  may 
address.  Pray  that  I  may  be  inspired  with  more  zeal,  more 
humility,  more  fervor  of  affection  in  the  glorious  cause  in 
which  I  am  engaged. 

I  have  lately  felt  an  unusual  concern   for  the  people  of 


70  MEMOIR    OF 


His  mind  diverted.  Letter  to  a  friend  ill  affliction. 

Winchester.  I  long  to  have  an  opportunity  of  addressing 
the  youth  of  that  place." 

During  the  present  year,  an  attachment  was  formed  be- 
tween Mr.  Walton  and  a  young  lady,  which  occupied  much 
of  his  time  and  thoughts,  and  at  length,  in  consequence  of 
parental  objections,  was  dissolved  by  mutual  consent.  He 
was  still  pursuing  his  studies  at  the  institution,  and  in  his 
journal  frankly  acknowledges  the  evil  effects  of  cherishing 
this  attachment.  "I  addressed  her,  but  I  am  now  disposed 
to  think  I  was  wrong  in  doing  so  at  so  early  a  period.  I  was 
too  hasty.  I  did  not  wait  as  I  ought  to  have  done  for  the 
Lord  to  make  the  path  of  duty  entirely  plain,  and  I  have 
suffered  severely  for  my  precipitancy."  Like  many  other 
rash  engagements  of  a  similar  character,  it  was  no  doubt 
broken  up  by  a  kind  and  vigilant  Providence. 

He  writes  in  March,  " has   occupied   my  affections 

and  my  thoughts  in  too  great  a  degree,  and  thus  I  have  been 
brought  to  neglect,  more  than  usual,  devout  meditation,  self 
examination,  &c.  I  feel  now  determined,  with  divine  as- 
sistance, to  be  more  engaged  in  religion,  and  to  seek  those 
real  and  lasting  enjoyments  which  flow  from  the  presence 
of  God."  He  afterwards  speaks  of  this  as  a  "  miserable  af- 
fair." 

To  a  friend  in  affliction  he  writes  under  date, 

"  Hampden  Sydney,  Sept.  11,  1815. 

My  Beloved  Friend  (Did  Brother, — I  have  just  received  a 
letter  from  your  mother,  containing  the  melancholy  and  dis- 
tressing intelligence  of  your  little  son's  death.  If  the  sym- 
pathy of  a  friend  can  alleviate  your  sorrows,  let  me  assure 
you  that  I  do  sympathize  with  you  deeply.  I  know  what  it 
is  to  have  sanguine  expectations  blasted;  and  what  it  is  to 
be  deprived  of  a  dear  object  of  our  affection.  Although  not 
very  far  advanced  in  life,  I  know  what  affliction  is ;  I  have 
felt  it ;  I  have  groaned  under  it.  But  I  have  reason  to  re- 
joice and  be  thankful  that  I  have  found  a  sovereign  rem- 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  71 

Letter  to  a  friend  in  aflliction. 

edy  for  all  my  woes.  And  it  affords  me  comfort  to  think 
that  you  are  not  a  stranger  to  this  remedy.  It  was  David's 
comfort  in  affliction  ;  and  it  has  heen  the  support  and  con- 
solation of  afflicted  saints  in  all  ages.  "Tie  the  word  of  God, 
our  heavenly  Father.  In  this  we  may  find  relief  when  all 
other  sources  of  comfort  fail.  Read  it,  my  friend  ;  medi- 
tate on  its  precious  promises  ;  look  forward  to  the  bright  and 
glorious  prospects  which  it  presents  to  our  view  ;  and  in  the 
midst  of  all  your  tribulations  rejoice  in  hope  of  the  glory  of 
God. 

There  are  a  thousand  considerations  calculated  to  allevi- 
ate your  afflictions.  You  know  how  gracious  and  merciful 
God  has  been  to  you  in  times  that  are  past.  You  know  that 
He  does  not  afflict  you  willingly,  nor  grieve  the  children  of 
men,  particularly  those  who  love  Him.  When  He  lays  His 
chastising  hand  upon  us,  there  is  always  a  '  need  be ;'  He 
always  has  some  important  purpose  to  be  answered  by  it. 
Although  you  may  not  now  be  able  to  comprehend  the  de- 
sign of  this  dispensation,  yet  the  time  is  coming  when  it  will 
be  fully  unfolded  to  your  complete  satisfaction.  If  improved 
properly,  I  have  no  doubt  that  it  will  promote  your  spir- 
itual advancement.  It  will  teach  you  more  effectually  the 
uncertainty  of  earthly  happiness,  and  lead  you  to  look  more 
entirely  to  God  for  your  enjoyment.  It  is  an  observation 
of  Dr.  Scott,  that  if  we  have  any  beloved  Isaacs  which  seem 
to  rival  God  in  our  affections,  He  often  deprives  us  of  them, 
in  order  to  try  the  sincerity  of  our  love  to  Him.  Thus  he 
tried  Abraham.  But  this  good  patriarch  was  not  only  re- 
quired to  resign  his  son  to  death,  but  to  sacrifice  him  with 
his  own  hands!  This  was  a  far  more  severe  trial,  my  friend, 
than  yours.  Think  of  the  conduct  of  Abraham  on  this  oc- 
casion, and  imitate  his  example.  Bow  submissively  to  the 
will  of  that  God,  whose  wisdom  never  errs,  and  whose  com- 
passions fail  not.  Say  with  Job,  '  The  Lord  gave  and  the 
Lord  hath  taken  away,  blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord.'  If 
your  dear  little  boy  had  lived,  you  are  not  absolutely  certain 
that  he  would  have  realized  all  your  expectations  concern- 
ing him;  your  hopes  that  he  would  be  a  pious  man  and  a 
minister.  But  you  are  not  certain  that  he  would  have  been 
either.  It  is  possible  that  he  might  have  lived  without  God 
in  the  world ;  and  at  last,  died  without  hope.  But  now, 
sweet  babe',  he  is  far  beyond  the  reach  of  Satan's  influence, 
where  he  will  never  be  exposed  to  the  temptations  and  tri- 


72  memoir  or 


Letter  to  B  Mend  in  allliciion.  Extracts  from  his  diary. 

als  of  this  world,  where  he  will  be  forever  secure  in  the  arms 
of  that  condescending  and  compassionate  Saviour,  who, 
when  he  was  (in  earth,  said,  '  Suffer  little  children  to  come 
unto  me  and  forbid  them  not,  foi  of  such  is  tin  kingdom  of 
heaven.1  Here  is  solid  comfort ;  substantial  support.  Itis 
not  very  long  before  you  will  meet  with  the  dear  little  crea- 
ture in  that  happy  world,  where  you  will  unite  with  him  in 
singing  the  praises  of  your  Redeemer.  Perhaps  he  may  be 
employed  as  a  ministering  spirit  to  attend  von  while  you 
live;  and  after  death,  to  conduct  your  soul  to  the  blessed 
mansions  above.  Dwell  on  such  consolations  as  these  ;  and 
instead  ol  sinking  down  into  despondency,  be  cheerful  and 
resigned,  and  manifest  to  the  world  that  there  is  something 
in  the  religion  of  Christ,  that  supports  the  believer  under  the 
most  distressing  bereavements. 

I  have  also  received  a  letter  from  Mr.  Kennon,  which 
has  excited  in  my  mind  a  good  deal  of  solicitude  about  the 
congregation  in  Charlestown.  I  am  surprised  that  any  of 
them  should  be  so  blinded  to  their  own  interests  as  to  choose 
me  in  preference  to  that  great  and  good  man,  Mr.  M.  I  was 
pleased  at  the  idea  of  settling  among  you  when  the  prospect 
was  first  presented  to  me.  But  after  Mr.  II.  informed  me  of 
Mr.  M's.  situation,  I  thought  it  was  your  interest  and  your 
duty  to  employ  him  ;  that  he  could  be  abundantly  more  use- 
ful to  you  than  I  could;  and  that  by  spending  a  longer  time 
at  College,  I  could  probably  do  more  for  the  interests  of  the 
Church  during  the  whole  of  my  ministry,  than  if  I  were 
now  to  settle  down  in  a  congregation." 

We  resume  some  extracts  from  his  diary  : 

"Nov.  27. — Yesterday  I  once  more  enjoyed  the  privilege 
of  sitting  at  the  table  of  the  Lord.  At  the  commencement  of 
the  exercises,  I  felt  cold  and  quite  uncomfortable.  But  to- 
wards the  conclusion,  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  I  think,  breathed 
upon  my  soul,  and  I  was  melted  into  penitence  for  my  past 
offences  and  backslidings.  I  had  also  some  comfortable 
views  of  the  mercy  of  God  in  Christ.  Upon  the  whole,  my 
mind  was  refreshed,  and  I  felt  more  and  more  desirous  of 
enjoying  the  comforts  of  religion;  of  growing  in  grace  and 
in  the  knowledge  of  my  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ." 

About  this  time  he  undertook  for  a  while  to  teach  an 


WILLIAM     C .     WALTON.  73 

Letter  to  a  friend. 

Academy,  at  Rosemont,  in  the  vicinity  of  his  residence. 
We  find  a  letter  written  from  this  place  to  a  friend  in  Balti- 
more. 

"Rosemont,  Jan.  1816. 

My  Dear  Friend, — I  suppose  you  are  hy  this  time  in  Bal- 
timore, and  you  are,  no  doubt,  expecting  a  letter  from  me. 
I  fear,  however,  th.it  the  pleasure  which  you  say  you  antici- 
pate from  its  reception,  will  not  he  realized.  1  am  not  very 
well;  and  both  my  mind  and  body  are  so  much  exhausted 
by  the  labors  of  the  day,  that  I  feel  not  much  disposed 
either  for  mental  or  corporeal  exertion.  I  am  frequently 
tempted  to  wish  that  I  had  never  had  any  thing  to  do  with 
the  Academy.  The  duties  it  imposes  upon  me  are  some- 
times really  oppressive.  My  mind  is  almost  incessantly  on 
the  stretch.  I  have  very  little  time  to  devote  either  to  study 
or  to  visiting  my  friends.  These  are  grievances.  But  I 
must  bear  them,  and  I  am  not  without  hope  that  some  good 
will  result  from  them  in  the  end.  The  labors  and  the  duties 
which  my  present  situation  involves,  may  form  me  to  hab- 
its which  will  be  of  use  to  me  during  the  whole  of  life;  they 
will  have  a  tendency  to  consolidate  a  firm  system  of  char- 
acter, which  is  important  to  every  man;  but  to  none  more 
than  to  a  minister  of  the  Gospel.  These  and  many  other 
considerations  tend  to  reconcile  me  to  my  lot.  Providence, 
I  have  reason  to  believe,  has  had  an  agency  in  fixing  me  in 
this  place,  and  I  trust  the  event  will  prove  it  has  been  for 
some  important  purpose. 

Perhaps  there  are  some,  nay,  it  may  be  many  precious 
souls  in  this  neighborhood  to  whom  the  saving  grace  of  the 
Gospel  is  to  be  communicated  through  my  instrumentality. 
If  so,  I  should  have  reason  to  adore  the  hand  that  conduct- 
ed me  hither,  even  if  it  had  imposed  upon  me  duties  of 
much  harder  performance  than  those  which  now  engage 
my  attention  and  employ  my  time.  I  hope  I  can  say  with 
truth  and  sincerity,  that  I  am  willing  to  spend  and  be  spent 
in  the  service  of  Him,  who  loved  me  and  gave  himself  for 
me. 

I  frequently  look  back  upon  my  past  life,  and  review  with 
astonishment  and  adoring  gratitude,  the  mercies  which  have 
marked  my  progress.  I  sometimes  feel  myself  under  a 
weight  of  obligation  that  is  almost  overwhelming,  and  have 


"74  MEMOIR     OF 


Letter  to  a  (riend. 


often  exclaimed,  'what  am  I,  O  Lord,  or  what  is  my  Fath- 
er's house  that  thou  hast  brought  me  hitherto?'     I  feel  as 
if  I  could  never  he  sufficiently  thankful,  and  that  I  can  nev- 
er do  enough   for  my  gracious  Benefactor  and  Redeemer. 
Would  to  Heaven  that  these  feelings  were  uniform  and  in- 
variable, and  that  they  could  always  operate,  so  as  to  bear 
me  away  in  a  course  of  active  and  zealous  and  indefatigable 
exertion  in  the  cause  of  my  divine  Master.     But  alas!  1  fre- 
quently sink  into  a  state  of  comparati\e  insensibility,  forget 
the  many  sacred  obligations  I  am  under,  enjoy  the  bounties 
of  Providence,  and    many  of  the  blessings  of  grace,  and 
like  Hczokiah  omit  to  render  unto  the  Lord  according  to 
the  benefits  received.     O  how  wonderful  is  the  mercy  and 
the  forbearance  of  God  !     Well  for  us  that  His  ways  are  not 
as   our  ways,  nor   His  thoughts  as  our   thoughts  I      Let  us, 
my  friend,  be  often  engaged  in  meditating  upon  our  past  in- 
gratitude and  abuse  of  mercies;   upon  the  numerous  follies 
and  sins   which  have  attended  our  youth  and  riper  years  ; 
that  our   minds  may  be  brought  to  that   habitual  spirit  of 
humility  and  deep  contrition,  which  it  becomes  us  to  cher- 
ish ;   and  that  we  may  more  sensibly  feel  our  great  need  of 
an  interest  in  Him  who  came  into  the  world  to  save  sinners. 
We  are  in  a  world  of  temptation.     We  are  surrounded  by 
objects  well  calculated  to  divert  our  attention  from  the  great 
concerns  of  souls.     The  many  incentives  to  pride  and  van- 
ity, and  worldly-mindedness,  which  are  incessantly  in  oper- 
ation, will  be  sure  to  have  their  effect,  unless  we  use  every 
means  in  our  power,  and  in  addition  to  our  own  efforts,  ob- 
tain aid  from  Heaven  to  counteract  their  agency.    Nothing 
has  a  greater  tendency  to  produce  that  spiritual-mindedness 
which    the  Apostle  says  is  life   and  peace,  than   habitual 
meditation.     In  this  way,  under  the  teaching   of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  we  become  acquainted  with  ourselves,  with  God  and 
His  Law,  with  Christ  and  the  plan  of  redemption  ;   and  our 
minds  become  familiarized  with  these  spiritual  objects,  the 
contemplation  of  which  corrects  our  views  of  the  world  and 
its  enjoyments,  purities  the  heart,  elevates  the  affections,  and 
fits  us  for  the  exalted  exercises  of  the  heavenly  state." 

"Fib.  20,  181 G. — I  have  been  very  much  beset  with  wick- 
ed thoughts  and  imaginations,  some  too  abominable  to  tell, 
These,  together  with  the  pride  of  my  heart,  my  ignorance 
of  God,  and  Christ,   and  heavenly  things,  and   many  other 


WILLIAM     C.     WALTON.  75 

Letter  to  his  mother. 

nameless  spiritual  evils,  have  combined  to  render  me  very 
uncomfortable — sometimes  miserable.  I  have  determined 
to  pay  more  attention  to  practical  reading,  and,  with  divine 
assistance,  to  be  more  engaged  in  prayer." 

The  following  letter  to  his  mother,  illustrates  the  filial 
affection  which  honored  his  bosom  : 

"  Hampden  Sydney,  Feb.  20,  1816. 

My  Dear  Mother, — It  would  seem  that  you  design  to  try 
my  patience  and  my  affection  too,  by  your  long  and  unac- 
countable silence.  If  this  is  your  object,  I  think  it  is  ac- 
complished ;  at  least  I  think  you  have  made  a  sufficient  tri- 
al ;  and  the  result  is,  that  I  have  become  very  impatient  to 
hear  from  you,  from  which  you  may  infer  that  my  affection 
has  not  suffered  any  diminution.  You  can  hardly  imagine 
how  much  1  should  be  gratified  by  the  reception  of  a  letter 
from  you. 

I  hope  the  time  is  not  very  far  distant,  when  I  shall  be  in 
a  condition  to  accommodate  you  more  comfortably  and  de- 
cently than  you  ever  were.  The  prospect  of  this  affords  me 
much  pleasure.  It  is  very  gratifying  to  have  it  in  our  pow- 
er to  recompense  our  benefactors.  You  I  esteem  as  more 
than  a  common  benefactor.  To  you,  instrumental!?,  I  am 
indebted  for  ray  existence.  This  consideration,  of  itself, 
lays  a  foundation  for  my  gratitude  and  love.  But  this  is  not 
all.  I  am  indebted  to  you  for  that  kind  and  affectionate  pa- 
rental care  which  you  took  of  me  in  the  days  of  my  helpless 
infancy,  and  for  a  thousand  nameless  instances  of  attention 
to  my  happiness,  sometimes,  perhaps,  at  the  expense  of  your 
own.  All  these  things  lay  me  under  an  obligation — and  an 
agreeable  one  most  truly — of  doing  every  thing  in  my  pow- 
er to  render  your  latter  days  as  happy  as  possible.  You 
know  it  is  my  intention  to  take  you  to  live  with  me  when  I 
settle.  I  cannot  now  say,  with  any  degree  of  certainty,  when 
that  will  be.  Probably  before  next  winter.  But  as  there  are 
so  many  places  in  the  State  which  now  present  an  inviting 
prospect,  it  will  take  me  some  time  to  visit  them  all,  in  or- 
der to  judge  where  I  can  probably  be  most  useful.  This  I 
expect  to  do  during  the  summer. 

I  have  been  informed  more  than  once  that  the  people  in 
Albemarle  and  Grange,  near  Mr.  G's.  wish  me  to  visit  them, 


76  MEMOIR    OF 


Attack  of  illness.  Itsetlict. 

in  order  to  form,  a  settlement  among  them.  A  situation 
that  promises  considerable  usefulness  might  also  be  very  ea- 
sily obtained  on  this  side  of  .lames  river.  These  and  two 
or  three  others,  nearer  to  Winchester,  of  which  I  was  speak- 
ing to  you,  are  the  places  from  which  I  shall  probably  make 
a  selection.  I  cannot  say  that  I  now  feel  any  particular  pre- 
dilection for  one  more  than  another.  My  chief  desire  is, 
laying  aside  all  local  partialities  and  selfish  feelings,  to  set- 
tle where  I  can  he  most  useful.  This  I  know  you  wish  me 
to  do ;  and  I  hope  you  will  often  pray,  as  I  do,  that  Provi- 
dence may  direct  me  where  to  '  choose  my  place  of  rest.' 

You  will  soon  be  where  it  will  be  out  of  your  power  to 
render  any  service  to  poor  mortals,  and  where  you  can  do 
nothing  for  the  promotion  of  religion.  I  hope,  therefore, 
that  a  sense  of  obi  i (ration  for  the  mercies  you  have  receiv- 
ed, and  a  concern  for  the  eternal  welfare  of  immortal  souls, 
will  induce  you,  and  me,  and  every  christian  to  exert  all  the 
powers  of  our  bodies  and  souls  in  the  service  of  our  Re- 
deemer, while  we  live.  Do  you  ask  how  you  can  do  any 
good  ?  I  answer,  you  can,  on  the  sabhath  day,  read  the 
Scriptures  or  some  good  pious  books  to  the  children  and 
servants.  You  can  instruct  them  in  the  first  principles  of 
religion,  and  direct  their  attention  to  the  '  Lamb  of  God 
who  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the  world.'  I  wish  you  particu- 
larly to  make  use  of  every  opportunity  of  reading  some  of  the 

scriptures  to  D .  Tell  him  it  is  my  request  that  he  should 

attend  to  it." 

"  The  time  is  fast  hastening,  and  not  far  distant,  when  I 
expect  to  make  choice  of  a  settlement.  I  think  I  can  truly 
say  that  I  desire  Providence  to  direct  me  wherever  I  can  be 
most  useful,  no  matter  where  that  may  be.  I  shall  continue 
to  pray  for  divine  direction,  and  O  may  it  be  granted  !" 

July  1. — It  has  now  been  a  long  time  since  I  wrote  down  any 
of  my  religious  exercises.  During  this  interval,  my  experi- 
ence has  been,  as  usual,  fluctuating.  While  I  was  in  Charles- 
town,  in  May  last,  I  had  a  severe  attack  of  the  bilious  fe- 
ver, or,  perhaps  the  epidemic.  During  my  illness,  my  mind 
was  comfortably  exercised  ;  I  had  no  fear  of  death.  I  have 
much  reason  to  be  thankful  for  that  affliction;  it  proved  a 
great  blessing  to  me  in  several  respects.     It  was  succeeded, 


WILLIAM    O  .    WALTON 


77 


His  engagement  to  Miss  Muse.  Extract  of  a  letter  from  a  friend.     Anecdote. 

too,  by  one  of  the  most  interesting  and  important  occuren- 
ences  of  my  life." 

That  occurrence  was  the  ratification,  in  the  month  of 
May,  of  a  matrimonial  engagement  with  Miss  Lucinda 
Muse,  who  still  lives  to  revere  the  virtues  and  cherish  the 
memory  of  her  departed  husband.  "I  view  her,"  says  he, 
"  as  the  dear  object  that  a  merciful  God  has  selected  for  me, 
to  comfort  and  bless  the  remnant  of  my  days.  May  we  both 
be  entirely  devoted  to  his  service,  and  be  made  instrumental 
in  promoting  the  kingdom  of  our  blessed  Redeemer." 

Soon  after  this  event,  Mr.  Walton  received  an  affection- 
ate and  faithful  letter  from  a  fellow  student  and  companion 
in  the  ministry,  whose  labors  have,  in  recent  years,  been  ex- 
tensively blessed  to  the  revival  of  religion  in  the  Southern 
and  Western  churches,  and  to  the  salvation  of  many  sin- 
ners. A  short  extract  follows:  "Remember  your  faith, 
your  trust,  your  character,  your  all  is  pledged.  This  pledge 
cannot  be  redeemed  except  at  Hymen's  altar.  *  *  * 
Your  mother  was  here  the  other  day.  How  tenderly  she 
loves  you  !  It  seems  her  life  is  wrapped  up  in  yours.  If 
you  should  die,  or  disappoint  her  expectations,  I  hardly 
think  she  would  survive  the  shock.  Think  of  this,  my 
brother,  and  let  it  stimulate  you  to  fill  up  your  days  with 
usefulness.  *  *  *  My  dear  brother,  let  us  try  to  be 
useful.  Let  us  try,  by  the  grace  of  God,  to  outstrip  those 
around  us  in  duty,  in  zeal,  and  in  heavenly  mindedness." 

A  interesting  anecdote  is  related  in  this  letter,  which  is 
given  below.* 


*  "  You  know  I  went  to  J last  winter,  and  delivered  four  discourses.    Well, 

as  I  was  on  my  way  there,  Saturday  before  last,  I  met  a  black  man  on  the  road.     He 

asked  me  if  my  name  was  B .    On  my  answering  in  the  affirmative,  he  most 

needs  shake  hands,  and  chat  awhile :  '  Why,"  massa,  said  he,  '  yon  russtlled  the  peo- 
ple when  you  was  here  before.'  'Jiussclled  ? '  replied  I,  hoping  he  would  make  use 
of  another  word  ;  for  I  confess  I  did  not  know  what  he  meant.  '  Fes,"  continued  ho, 
1  you  rasselled  the  people.  You  come  too  close  on  'em.  You  said  de  besi  way  to  try 
if  de  tree  be  sound,  is,  take  a  stick,  and  knock  'em.'    A  tree  being  fortunately  at 

7* 


78  MEMOIR     OF   \V  A  L  T  O  N  . 

Work  of  tin1  ministry. 

The  more  Mr.  Walton  contemplated  the  work  of  the  min- 
istry, the  more  weighty  and  awful  did  it  appear :  "  I  have 
within  a  few  days  past  had  an  almost  overwhelming  sense 
of  the  responsibility  attached  to  the  ministerial  character. 
I  sometimes  fear  that  I  shall  never  be  able  to  perform  the 
arduous  duties  of  a  pastor.  May  the  grace  of  God  be  suf- 
ficient for  me.  To  Him  I  would  look,  and  hope  I  shall  not 
look  in  vain." 

"Aug.  20. — I  have  departed  too  far  from  the  Lord;  my 
heart  has  become  too  much  estranged  from  Him.  But  He 
seems  determined  not  to  give  me  up.  He  is  now  afflicting 
me,  I  hope,  with  a  design  to  promote  my  spiritual  and  eter- 
nal advantage.  David  prayed  to  be  delivered  from  the 
wicked,  who  he  said  were  the  sword  of  the  Lord.  I  be- 
lieve he  frequently  employs  them  as  instruments  in  chastis- 
ing his  children." 

"  May  12. — For  about  five  weeks  past,  my  mind  has  been 
in  an  unsettled  state.  I  have  been  engaged  in  one  of  the 
most  important  and  interesting  transactions  of  my  life.  On 
the  8th  day  of  last  month,  I  was  married  to  the  dear  object 
of  my  love.  This  was  an  event  to  which  I  had  long  been 
looking  forward  with  the  most  pleasing  anticipations." 


hand,  he  gave  me  a  practical  illustration  of  his  meaning.  After  telling  me,  'as  for 
Jlim  he  loved  plain  preaching,'  we  took  leave  of  each  other.  I  began  to  fear  I  had  of- 
fended the  people  here  also,  and  now  my  usefulness  was  at  an  end.  But  I  was  soon 
very  agreeably  undeceived  ;  for  on  reaching  the  town,  although  I  heard  one  or  two 
did  not  like  my  singing  '  fVken  I  can  read  my  title  clear,  i$-c.'  to  a  Methodist  tune,  yet 
the  Lord  had  blessed  my  labors,  and  awakened  an  unusual  attention  toreligioiis  con- 
cerns." 


CHAPTER     V 


Thoughts  of  future  settlement.  Fondness  for  retirement. 

Mr.  Walton  had  now,  (our  narrative  has  reached 
the  year  1818,)  been  preaching,  for  the  most  part  of  the 
time,  to  the  congregations  of  Smithfield  and  Berryville, 
though  neither  installed  nor  actually  resident  among  the 
people.  He  therefore  felt  unsettled,  and  was  not  without 
anxiety  as  to  the  place  of  his  future  residence,  and  the  field 
of  his  future  labor.  He  prayed  daily  and  earnestly  for 
providential  guidance.  When  he  says,  "  I  feel  willing  to 
go  wherever  Providence  may  open  a  door,"  those  who 
knew  the  habitual  sincerity  of  his  soul,  will  believe  the  as- 
sertion of  his  lips.  He  would  not  drive  Providence,  but  be 
led  by  it. 

"  All  that  I  desire  is  to  know  the  will  of  that  God,  whom  I 
desire  to  serve  with  sincerity,  and  with  my  best  energies. 
*  #  #  ^he  increase  of  my  possessions  has  added  noth- 
ing to  my  happiness,  and  1  expect  happiness  from  no  such 
source." 

In  the  Spring  of  this  year,  he  remarks  :  "I  have  secluded 
myself  so  much  from  society  this  winter,  that  it  is  now  with 
extreme  reluctance  I  go  into  it.  I  feel  an  unaccountable 
aversion  to  being  seen  by  any  but  particular  friends.  I  dis- 
like to  walk  down  the  street.  In  short,  I  have  in  my  com- 
position a  good  deal  of  the  monk."  We  should  indulge 
solitude  only  so  far  as  it  fits  us  to  be  useful  in  society,  and 
never  mingle  in  society  so  long  or  so  eagerly  as  to  unfit  us 


80  MEMOIR     OF 


Ordination.  Installation.  Ill-prepared  sermons. 


for  solitude.     The   recluse   fails  in   his  duty  to   the  world. 
The  wanderer  fails  in  his  duty  to  himself. 

On  the  25th  of  April,  Mr.  Walton  was  ordained  by  the 
Presbytery  to  the  work  of  the  gospel  ministry,  at  Martins- 
burg,  and  on  the  Gth  of  May,  was  installed  Pastor  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  Hopewell. 

"  It  was  the  most  solemn  scene  that  was  ever  presented 
to  my  view.  I  felt  the  powers  of  the  world  to  come.  I 
thought  I  could  almost  see  the  judgment  bar  before  me,  and 
ministers  and  people  advancing  to  receive  their  doom.  It 
was  an  interesting  and  impressive  transaction.  May  the 
Lord  give  me  grace  to  be  faithful.  I  feel  that  I  am  noth- 
ing, and  can  do  nothing  to  purpose,  without  his  aid.  O  that 
his  aid  may  be  imparted  !" 

"  Aug.  27. — I  have  another  instance  of  God's  great  mer- 
cy to  record.  A  few  days  ago,  I  was  thrown  out  of  my  <ng 
and  placed  in  circumstances  of  extreme  danger ;  but  through 
a  remarkable  interposition  of  Providence,  I  sustained  but 
little  injury. 

On  last  Sabbath,  the  day  after  my  fall,  I  preached  in  B. 
as  much  to  my  own  satisfaction,  as  I  almost  ever  did.  The 
congregation  was  uncommonly  large.  I  was  not  well  pre- 
pared, and  felt  my  dependence  on  God ;  I  looked  to  Him, 
and  prayed  that  his  strength  might  be  made  perfect  in  my 
weakness." 

Were  my  brother  living,  I  should  say  to  him :  Dear 
brother,  you  mistake.  This  is  not  dependence,  but  pre- 
sumption. If  you  had  been  well  prepared,  that  had  been 
the  dependence  of  faith.  Very  likely,  you  preached  to  your 
own  satisfaction,  but  whether  to  the  satisfaction  of  your 
Master,  is  another  question.  This  is  not  the  weakness  in 
which  the  strength  of  God  is  perfected.  "  The  foolishness 
of  preaching"  says  Dr.  Boecher,  "  is  not  foolish  preach- 
ing." The  oil  with  which  the  preacher  fills  the  pulpit 
lamp,  must  be  neither  raw  nor  rancid.  Undigested  sermons 
make  a  lean  people.  Very  old  sermons  make  a  sour  peo- 
ple.    They  will  submit  to  it,  perhaps,  because  their  Pastor 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  81 


Purchases  a  house  in  VVinchisicr. 


is  "such  a  visitor;"  always  among  them;  hut  it  is  only 
endured. 

Of  his  exercises  during  the  year  1819,  but  a  partial 
record  is  made.  He  seems,  however,  to  have  grown  more 
and  more  sensible  of  "  the  worth  of  the  Saviour's  atoning 
blood  and  perfect  righteousness,  and  the  necessity  of  pray- 
ing for  daily  and  hourly  supplies  of  grace." 

Under  date,  Sept.  3,  he  writes:  "  I  have  had  many  trials 
and  conflicts,  most  of  which  are  unknown  except  to  God 
and  myself.  Some  of  them  have  been  exceedingly  painful, 
and  have  cast  me  down  very  low.  Sometimes  I  have  been 
so  low  that  it  appeared  not  very  likely  that  I  should  ever 
rise  again ;  my  prospects  have  been  repeatedly  so  dark, 
that  nothing  comfortable  in  this  world  presented  itself." 

About  this  time  Mr.  Walton  purchased  a  house  in  Win- 
chester, for  a  considerable  sum,  with  the  view  of  residing 
there.  This  purchase,  made  on  credit,  cost  him  much 
trouble  and  anxiety.  From  the  history  of  the  transaction 
may  be  deduced  this  rule,  that  3Iinisters  of  the  Gospel  should 
have  as  little  as  j)o>siblc  to  do  with  secular  matters  ;  that 
none  who  enlist  for  this  warfare  should  '  entangle  them- 
selves with  the  affairs  of  this  life.'  Had  not  our  brother 
been  possessed  of  ultimate  resources  beyond  the  ability  of 
most  ministers,  he  must  have  sunk  under  the  pressure  of 
debt.  Those  Christian  professors  or  ministers,*  who  from 
want  of  care,  or  love  of  indulgence,  or  a  freak  of  fancy, 
involve  themselves  beyond  their  means  of  payment,  do 
great  injury  to  the  cause  of  religion,  and  die  leaving  their 
families  an  inheritance  of  penury  and  pain.  "  The  diffi- 
culty of  the  times,  and  the  scarcity  of  money,"  says  he 
"  are  unexampled.  But  I  try  to  cast  my  cares  and  bur- 
dens on  the  Lord,  believing  that  he  careth  for  me,  and  that 
He  will    in   some  way  or  other  enable  me  to  meet   the 

*  gee  the  first  part  of  the  life  of  the  heavenly-minded  Bedell. 


82  MEMOIR     OP 


Embarrassments.  Bettered.  Another  psc  a  pp. 

demand."  lie  made  all  due  exertions  to  meet  his  just 
debts,  and  we  nexl  hear  of  his  praises  to  God  for  answering 
his  prayers.  "  Nov.  4. — Blessed  be  the  Lord,  my  trust, 
my  confidence,  my  Helper,  my  Almighty  Friend  !  He  has 
brought  me  out  of  my  pecuniary  difficulties,  and  abundantly 
supplied  my  wants.  He  has  inclined  tlie  hearts  of  those 
who  owed  me  to  make  extraordinary  exertions  to  pay  me, 
and  although  they  had  repeatedly  disappointed  me  before, 
yet  now  in  a  time  of  the  greatest  difficulty  they  have  paid 
me.  I  think  I  cm  see  the  band  of  Providence  in  the 
means  by  which  they  were  enabled  to  meet  my  demands." 
'  Verily  they  t!i  it  seek  the  Lord  shall  not  want  any  good 
thing.'  '  He  shall  deliver  thee  in  six  troubles,  yea,  in 
seven  there  shall  no  evil  touch  thee.'     Job  v.  19. 

If  any  pious,  humble  Pastor,  or  Home  Missionary  is  hut 
scantily  supported  by  his  people,  let  him  'trust  in  the 
Lord,  and  do  :>ood  ;  so  shalt  thou  dwell  in  the  land,  and 
verily  thou  .  halt  be  fed.'  This  is  better  than  any  promis- 
sory note  or  certificates  of  stock.  "  I  obtained  just  what 
was  needed,  in  two  or  three  instances,  at  the  very  point  of 
time  when  it  was  most  necessary,  to  the  amount  of  three 
or  four  hundred  dollars.  I  record  these  circumstances 
and  could  record  still  more,  to  impress  upon  my  mind,  and 
to  keep  alive  in  my  memory  the  goodness  of  the  Lord,  and 
to  encourage  me  in  all  future  difficulties  to    trust  in  Him." 

In  October  of  this  year,  he  removed  his  family  to  Win- 
chester, and  took  possession  of  his  new  house.  He  records 
various  mercies  from  time  to  time.  Again  he  narrowly 
escaped  death  by  a  fall  from  a  horse.  A  house  near  his 
took  fire,  and  had  well  nigh  communicated  the  destructive 
flame  to  his  own  valuable  dwelling.  His  beloved  wife  had 
been  brought  through  great  dangers,  and  he  longs  for  a 
grateful  heart  for  all  these  mercies.  "  It  is  of  the  Lord's 
mercies  that  we  are  not  consumed,"  is  the  record  he  makes. 

In  April  1820,  he  says,  "  I  feel,  and  have  long  felt  many 


WILLIAM    C.WALTON.  83 

Sickness.  Foundation  of  his  hope. 

anxieties  about  my  situation,  in  regard  to  my  ministerial 
duties.  My  soul  still  longs  to  be  among  my  people,  that  I 
might  be  more  useful  to  them  in  a  variety  of  ways.  But 
there  are  many  difficulties  to  prevent  the  accomplishment 
of  this  desire  at  present.  I  am  hedged  in,  and  my  way  is 
dark.  May  the  Lord  guide  and  direct  me,  and  make  me 
useful  in  some  sphere  or  other  while  I  live  ! " 

"  Sabbath,  July  2. — I  have  now  been  prevented  from 
preaching  four  Sabbaths  by  indisposition,  particularly  by  a 
tumor  on  my  neck,  which  has  been  there  about  five  months. 
It  has  given  me  a  good  deal  of  pain ;  but  the  afHiction  is 
light  compared  with  what  I  deserve.  I  feel  an  earnest 
desire  to  be  again  employed  in  my  work.  I  have  been  more 
affected  by  a  consideration  of  the  destitute  state  of  my 
people  than  I  ever  was  before.  The  idea  of  being  useless 
in  my  day  and  generation  is  truly  distressing.  But  it 
affords  me  relief  to  think  that  I  am  in  the  hands  of  Him 
whom  I  serve,  and  who  knows  what  to  do  with  his  own." 

"  Aug.  31. — This  is  the  day  appointed  by  our  General 
Assembly  for  humiliation,  thanksgiving,  and  prayer.  To 
these  purposes  I  desire  sincerely  to  devote  it.  May  the 
Lord  give  me  views  and  feelings  suitable  to  the  occasion ! 
*  *  *         I  feel  that  every  drop    of  mercy, 

and  every  degree  of  grace  that  is  bestowed  upon  me  must 
come  freely,  not  only  without  my  deserts,  but  in  opposi- 
tion to  them  ;  and  I  think  I  have  such  a  view  of  the 
perfection  of  Christ's  work,  and  of  his  all-sufficiency  as  a 
Saviour,  that  I  can  see  how  God  can  be  just,  and  yet 
save  me.  Here,  I  am  confident,  is  all  my  hope.  Here,  if 
1  know  any  thing  about  the  Gospel,  is  that  sure  foundation, 
that  God  lias  laid  in  Zion  ;  on  this,  I  think  I  am  resting, 
and  with  these  views  and  feelings,  I  trust  I  shall  be  prepared 
by  Divine  grace  to  meet  death  with  peace  and  joy.  I  have 
long  been  in  a  very  weakly  and  delicate  state  of  health, 
such  as  has  often,  and  for  many  Sabbaths  in  succession, 
prevented  me  from  preaching.  I  feel  this  to  be  a  trial,  but 
in  the  general,  I  am  enabled  to  acquiesce  in  the  dispensa- 
tion. I  think  it  has  been  good  for  me  that  I  have  been 
afflicted.  It  has  weakened  the  ties  that  bind  me  to  this 
world  ;  it  has  directed  my  views  more  to  spiritual  objects 
and  quickened  me  in  prayer." 


84  MEMOIR    OP 


Removes  to  his  farm. 


"  After  long,  and  anxious,  and  prayerful  consideration,  I 
have  come  to  the  conclusion,  that  it  will  be  the  best  thing 
I  can  do  in  present  circumstances,  to  go  to  reside  on 
my  farm.*  There  I  shall  be  at  much  less  expense,  and 
shall  be  more  convenient  to  my  place  of  preaching.  I  hope 
also  that  it  will  agree  better  with  my  health.  There  I 
shall  be  free  from  the  cares  of  the  farm,  (having  rented  it,) 
and  hope  to  have  an  opportunity  of  performing  the  pastoral 
duties  of  my  office.  I  go  with  full  purpose  of  heart  to  be 
devoted  to  the  Lord  in  the  work  he  has  assigned  me,  and 
fed  that  there  is  nothing  in  this  world  in  which  I  take  so 
deep  an  interest.  '  Remember  me,  Oh  my  God  for  good,' 
and  give  me  grace  to  know,  and  love,  and  serve  thee. 
Remember  also  my  dear  wife  and  children,  and  other  con- 
nections, and  make  them  all  the  objects  of  thy  care,  and 
the  subjects  of  thy  saving  grace  !     Amen." 

After  removing  to  his  farm,  he  records  the  goodness  of 
God  in  past  deliverances,  and  in  reference  to  worldly  per- 
plexities, says  :  "  I  have  for  several  years  made  these  things 
matters  of  prayer,  and  often  have  I  felt  a  sweet  relief  in 
depending  upon  God,  even  when  I  could  not  see  hoic  He 
was  to  accomplish  my  desires."  Again  he  had  difficulties 
with  the  removed  tenant  of  his  farm.  The  man  was 
disposed  to  be  obstinately  dishonest.  He  was  advised  and 
urged  to  institute  a  suit  against  him.  "  I  thought  at  one 
time,"  says  he,  "  it  would  be  unavoidable,  and  the  prospect 
was  insupportable  to  me  ;  but  the  more  I  reflected  upon  it, 
the  more  I  felt  inclined  to  run  the  risk  of  losing  the  whole, 
rather  than  proceed  in  a  legal  way  to  the  attainment  of  my 
rights.  In  this  I  am  confident  I  acted  conscientiously — 
from  the  fear  of  God,  a  regard  to  the  interests  of  religion, 
and  compassion  for  the  man." 

"I  have  lately  read  the  lives  of  Whitefield,  Wesley,  and 
Mrs.  Cooper,  and  Mrs.  Fletcher,  I  hope  with  some  profit. 
They  have  been  the  means  of  exciting  within  me  stronger 
desires  after  holiness  and  usefulness,  than  lever  felt  before. 

*  His  farm  was  in  Bethany. 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  85 

Ruptures  a  blood  vessel.  A  professor  awakern id. 

They  have,  I  think,  corrected  and  extended  my  views  in 
some  measure  on  experimental  religion ;  particularly  in 
regard  to  those  attainments  after  which  Christians  ought  to 
aspire.  I  find  too  that  the  impression  they  have  left  upon 
my  mind  gives  additional  animation  to  my  preaching,  and 
helps  me  much." 

"  About  the  second  week  in  December  I  ruptured  a  blood 
vessel,  probably  in  my  lungs.  I  could  not  say  with  certainty 
what  was  the  immediate  cause.  I  was  sitting  still  without 
making  any  effort  when  it  occurred.  It  produced  some 
alarm,  and  made  me  think  very  seriously  of  death.  I  felt 
resigned  to  the  will  of  my  Father  in  Heaven,  and  blessed 
be  His  name,  He  has  now  restored  my  health  and  strength, 
which  I  desire  to  spend  in  his  service." 

"  Nov.  8. — *  *  *  *  Since  my  health  has 
become  somewhat  established,  I  have  felt  at  times  a  desire 
to  be  engaged  in  a  more  important  sphere  of  labor  than 
that  in  which  I  am  now  occupied.  But  lately  I  have  felt 
rather  more  satisfied  to  continue  where  I  am,  chiefly 
on  account  of  the  opportunities  I  here  enjoy  of  retirement 
and  study.  I  now  feel  as  much  vigor  of  resolution  to  set 
about  a  course  of  systematic  study,  as  I  ever  did  when  at 
College.  I  know  not  what  may  be  the  design  of  the  Great 
Head  of  the  Church  respecting  me.  I  think  I  feel  willing 
to  labor  in  an  obscure  corner,  if  I  can  be  useful,  and  if  I 
can  be  satisfied  I  am  in  the  path  of  duty ;  but  I  wish  to  be 
qualified  for  filling  any  station  to  which  I  may  ever  be 
called." 

"  Nov.  14. — A  few  days  ago  I  had  an  interesting  interview 
with  Mrs.  ,  who  about  five  years  since  made  a  profes- 
sion of  religion  in  the  Episcopal  Church.  She  had  arrived 
at  that  age  when  the  world  generally  loses  most  of  its  attrac- 
tions ;  she  had  also  met  with  some  severe  afflictions.  Her 
mind  became  more  thoughtful,  and  she  felt  in  some  measure 
the  necessity  of  being  religious.  She  appears  to  have  had  an 
indistinct  view  of  religion  as  a  source  of  comfort,  and  as  a 
means  of  preparation  for  death  and  eternity,  and  made  a 
profession  without  being  truly  convinced  of  the  evil  of  sin, 
without  having  any  just  ideas  of  the  spirituality  and  extent 
of  the  divine  law,  and  of  her  helpless  condition  as  a  sinner. 
For  three  years  past  her  health  has  been  declining ;  but 
never  until  a  week  or  two  ago,  has  she  evinced  that  deep 
8 


86  MEMOIR    OF 


AnniluT  I'usi-.  Opening  of  the  year. 

engagedness,  which  her  pious  friends  desired  to  see.  God 
has  been  graciously  pleased  to  give  her  eyes  to  see,  and  a 
heart  to  understand.  And  the  consequence  is,  that  she  is 
now  in  deep  distress,  apparently  experiencing  the  bitterness 
of  repentance,  undergoing  the  humbling  process,  which  is 
to  prepare  her  for  receiving  salvation  on  Gospel  terms.  She 
says  she  never  knew  any  thing  about  religion,  that  she  is  a 
poor  ruined,  helpless  sinner,  that  she  never  did  any  good 
thing  in  her  life,  and  that  she  is  awfully  afraid  there  is  no 
mercy  for  her.  I  talked  with  her  for  a  long  time,  and 
prayed  with  her,  and  left  her,  rather  more  composed." 

A  similar  case  occurred  in  his  own  congregation. 

"One  of  the  members  of  my  congregation,  who  made  a 
credible  profession  of  religion  about  two  or  three  years 
ago,  had  declined  in  his  religious  feeling  and  practice,  until 
he  was  near  bringing  an  open  disgrace  upon  his  profession. 
He  did  in  one  instance  act  very  improperly.  But  about 
that  time  he  was  laid  upon  a  sick  bed,  and  his  feelings  of 
shame  and  of  godly  sorrow  have  been  deep  and  pungent 
indeed.  He  has  been  almost  overwhelmed  with  a  sense  of 
guilt  and  unworthiness." 

"Jan.  1,  1822 — At  the  close  of  the  past,  and  the  begin- 
ning of  the  present  year,  I  have  endeavored  to  recollect  my 
sins;  to  confess  and  mourn  over  them.  But  I  find  that  one 
of  the  greatest  evils  under  which  I  labor  is  an  insensible 
heart.  *  *  *  *  I  have  to  confess,   too, 

that  my  feelings  are  not  such   as   to  prompt  me  to  those 
vigorous    and   self-denying   efforts  to  advance  in  personal 
holiness,  which  others  have  so  successfully  made. 
*  *  I    do  not  remember  that  my   heart  was 

ever  before  drawn  out  in  praise  and  adoration  so  much  as 
it  was  last  evening.  This  morning  I  have  had  a  comfort- 
able season  in  prayer.  I  think  I  feel  thankful  for  the  im- 
provement of  my  health  :  it  is  vastly  better  than  it  was  this 
time  last  year.  I  hope  too  I  am  thankful  for  the  preserva- 
tion of  the  lives  and  the  health  of  my  family  ;  for  our  exemp- 
tion from  those  judgments  which  we  deserve  to  suffer  ;  and 
for  the  continuance  of  our  earthly  comforts." 

Near  the  close  of  the  preceding  year,  Mr.  Walton  recei- 
ved an  invitation  from  the  Second  Presbyterian  Society  in 


WILLIAM     C.     WALTON.  87 

Invitation  to  Washington. 


Washington  City,  then   in   its  infancy,  to  do   ministerial 
service  for  them,  until  they  should  receive  the  reply  of  Rev. 

Mr.   li to   a   call,   which   had  hecn    tendered  to  him. 

His  preaching  was  acceptable  to  the  people ;  they  showed 
him  many  marks  of  respect  and  affection,  and  the  evening 
before  he  left,  a  leading  member  assured  him  of  a  very 
general  kind  feeling  towards  him;  a  feeling,  which  but  for 
their  delicate  relation  towards  his  friend  and  brother,  Mr. 
B.(  (who  afterwards  settled  with  them,)  would  probably 
have  manifested  itself  in  the  presentation  of  a  call.  He 
felt  at  this  time,  as  if  some  change  of  situation  would  be 
better  fitted  to  awaken  in  him  fresh  resolutions,  and  more 
vigorous  endeavors.  "  My  prospects  of  usefulness  in 
preaching  where  I  now  am,  are  quite  discouraging.  I  am 
waiting  to  see  what  the  Lord  will  do  with  me,  and  it  is  my 
constant  prayer,  that  He  may  guide  me  in  all  my  ways." 
*  *         *         "  It  seems  like  doing  nothing 

to  preach  to  my  distant  congregations  once  or  twice  a 
month.  I  am  more  and  more  convinced  that  it  is  the  duty 
of  a  minister  to  be  much  among  his  people,  and  to  con- 
verse personally  with  them,  and  attend  meetings  for  prayer 
and  catechising,  &c.  As  it  would  be  attended  with  great 
inconvenience  for  me  in  my  present  situation,  to  discharge 
these  duties,  and  as  it  would  prevent  me  from  pursuing 
those  studies  which  are  so  important  to  my  future  useful- 
ness, I  am  often  ready  to  conclude  that  it  would  be  best  for 
me,  and  for  the  general  interests  of  the  Church,  to  confine 
my  labors  to  the  neighborhood  in  which  I  reside." 

"  The  Lord  has  recently  brought  me  very  low,  and  caus- 
ed me  to  look  death  in  the  face.  At  first,  as  the  dangerous 
symptoms  were  sudden,  at  least  to  my  apprehension,  and  as 
I  felt  very  much  like  losing  my  reason,  I  was  considerably 
agitated.  I  cried  unto  the  Lord  as  did  Hezekiah,  and 
prayed  that  he  would  spare  me  for  my  own  sake,  for  the 
sake  of  my  family,  and  for  the  sake  of  the  Church.  I 
desired  to  live,  to  be  more  diligent  in  seeking  the  Lord  and 


88  MEMOIR     OF 


Impression  of  spirits. 


obtaining  the  assurance  of  my  acceptance;  that  I  might 
be  useful  to  my  children  and  family,  but  especially  that  I 
might  labor  more  for  the  salvation  of  souls  in  this  region." 

The  history  of  Mr.  Walton's  experience  while  remaining 
in  Virginia,  is  a  history  of  alternate  hope  and  fear,  of  occa- 
sional elevation,  but  probably  of  more  frequent  depression 
of  mind.  Through  the  summer  of  1S22,  his  health  was 
feeble,  his  spirits  dejected,  his  energies  debilitated.  Let 
not  the  sceptic  sneer,  and  ask,  JV/iere  is  your  God  ?  Where 
are  the  consolations  of  your  boasted  religion  ?  But  for 
these,  he  might  have  sunk  into  a  state  of  irretrievable  des- 
pondency. Nay,  had  he  lived  in  Paris,  he  would  probably 
have  committed  suicide.  Had  he  been  'without  God,  and 
without  hope,'  he  might  have  raised  his  hand  against  him- 
self! But,  says  he,  "  Prayer  and  reading  the  word  of  God 
kept  me  from  despondency.  I  have  never  yet,  at  any  period 
of  my  Christian  experience,  neglected  private  prayer,  where 
I  was  in  circumstances  to  perform  it ;  and  when  I  could  not 
be  alone,  I  have  almost  always  prayed  mentally,  and  some- 
times in  this  way,  very  fervently.  Generally  I  have  found, 
and  still  find,  more  or  less  relief  and  comfort  in  these  exer- 
cises. At  times,  my  heart  is  much  enlarged,  and  it  is  truly 
refreshing.  Lately  I  have  been  led  to  pray  particularly  for 
sanctifying  and  enlightening  grace,  for  perfect  submission 
to,  and  acquiescence  in  the  will  of  God  ;  for  my  family,  that 
all  may  be  made  wise  unto  salvation,  and  each  have  the 
spirit  of  his  or  her  station ;  more  particularly,  for  my  wife 
and  children,  also  for  the  people  of  God  every  where ;  for 
the  afflicted  and  the  dying;  and  for  the  success  of  the  gos- 
pel throughout  the  world.  On  these,  and  other  topics,  I 
often  feel  much  freedom  in  enlarging,  when  in  private 
prayer." 

"I  am  waiting  to  see  what  the  Lord  will  do  with  me, 
and  if  I  should  conclude  upon  satisfactory  reasons  that  it  is 
his  will  I  should  remain  here,  I  will,  by  his  grace,  go  to  the 
work  in  this  neighborhood  in  good  earnest." 


WILLIAM     C.     WALTON.  89 

Ltfeof  Scott  and  Pilgrim's  Progrew, 

In  the  prospect  of  further  pecuniary  difficulties  and  dis- 
appointments, he  says  :  "  I  feel  in  a  good  degree  resigned. 
I  trust  I  have  committed  the  whole  matter  to  the  Lord  by 
prayer,  and  I  am  willing  he  should  dispose  of  it  as  he 
pleases." 

"  I  have  lately  read  the  life  of  Dr.  Scott,  and  I  hope  it 
was  blessed  to  me.  This  morning  after  family  prayers 
Margaret  Ann  appeared  affected  to  tears,  and  said  she  was 
very  sorry  that  .she  hud  sinned  so  against  God.  This  is 
not  the  first  encouraging  symptom  of  early  piety  that  she 
has  exhibited.  The  first  wish  and  prayer  of  my  heart 
respecting  her  and  my  other  children,  is,  that  they  may  be 
true  and  exemplary  Christians." 

"  Dec.  12. — Went  with  my  wife  to  Charlcstown — labored 
under  great  depression  of  spirits — nothing  appeared  encour- 
aging in  my  prospects — while  many  things  appeared  to  be 
against  me.  I  have  often  no  comfort  at  home  or  abroad, 
except  what  1  derive  from  prayer,  and  the  hope  of  Heaven. 
I  feel  greatly  defective  in  every  part  of  Christian  character. 
I  groan,  being  burdened;  still  my  ruling  desire  is  to  serve, 
glorify,  and  enjoy  God  as  my  portion." 

"  Dec.  23. — For  about  a  week  past,  I  have  been  more 
than  usually  alive  to  the  concerns  of  my  soul.  I  attribute 
this,  instrunientally,  to  reading  the  Pilgrim's  Progress.  I 
have  been  much  engaged  in  prayer,  though  I  am  far  from 
that  state  of  mind  in  reference  to  this  duty,  to  which  I 
aspire,  and  which  I  hope  to  attain.  I  have  been  particu- 
larly led  to  pray  for  the  gift  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  that  I 
might  have  ((rarer  and  more  distinct  views  of  the  atone- 
ment and  rig/itcous7icss  of  Christ,  and  that  I  might  be  able 
to  rest  here  with  more  comfort  and  assurance  of  acceptance  ; 
that  Christ  might  be  more  precious  to  me,  and  that  his 
law  might  constrain  me  more  than  it  ever  has  done." 

"  Sab.  Eve.,  Dec.  29. — Preached  a  funeral  sermon  at 
Smithfield — very  much  exhausted  in  body  when  I  arrived 
there,  and  in  a  most  unfavorable  state  for  preaching.  Hav- 
ing a  written  preparation  I  made  out  to  go  through  with 
the  service,  but  in  a  manner  very  uncomfortable  to  myself, 
and  I  fear  not  much  to  the  edification  of  the  hearers. 
8* 


CHAPTER     VI. 


Invitation  from  Baltimore. 


The  thoughtful  reader  will  now  he  satisfied,  that  the 
state  of  Mr.  Walton's  mind  and  feelings  was  such,  as  to 
demand  moral  stimulus  of  a  certain  kind,  in  order  to  raise 
them  to  such  a  tone  as  would  fit  him  either  for  personal 
enjoyment  or  useful  effort.  His  mental  idiosyncracy  evi- 
dently required  it.  The  kind  Providence  of  God  supplied 
this  desideratum. 

On  his  return  from  Smithfield,  one  of  his  preaching  pla- 
ces, a  letter  was  in  waiting  from  Baltimore,  the  object  of 
which,  was  to  obtain  his  services  for  the  Third  Presbyterian 
Church  in  that  city,  then  in  its  infancy.  On  the  reception 
of  this,  he  remarks:  "  I  felt  pleased  at  the  idea  that  per- 
haps the  Lord  was  about  to  open  to  me  a  door  of  greater 
usefulness.  Yet  my  mind  is  much  impressed  with  the 
thought  of  entering  upon  such  a  sphere  of  temptation  and 
of  arduous  duty  ;  I  feel  less  confidence  in  my  ability  for 
such  a  situation  than  I  did  several  years  ago.  I  try  to  pray 
daily  and  often,  for  divine  direction.  And  now  I  must  act 
according  to  that  view  of  the  case  which  the  Lord  may 
give  me.  On  the  whole,  I  am  convinced  that  it  is  my  duty 
to  visit  the  congregation  in  Baltimore,  if  the  Lord  should 
permit  me  so  to  do." 


MEMOIR     OF     WALTON.  91 

Visits  that  city.  State  of  th<:  congregation. 

The  expectations  of  Mr.  W.  had  not  been  at  all  turned 
in  the  direction  of  Baltimore,  and  of  this  invitation,  there- 
fore, he  remarks,  that  it  "  came  unsought,  unexpected,  from 
a  place  that  I  had  not  thought  of."  So  serious  a  proposal 
was  of  course  made  the  subject  of  solemn  deliberation  and 
of  earnest  prayer.  He  visited  Baltimore  in  the  month  of 
January,  1823,  preached  to  the  congregation  two  Sabbaths, 
and  attended  three  adjunct  meetings.  Soon  after  this,  he 
received  a  regular  call  to  settle  as  their  Pastor.  On  com- 
ing among  them,  he  ascertained  that  things  were  not  in  a 
perfectly  pleasant  state.  Causes  of  internal  dissension  had 
prevailed ;  jealouses  existed  ;  different  opinions  had,  as  is 
frequent  in  cities  and  larger  towns,  been  formed  on  the 
merits  of  different  candidates,  and,  says  Walton,  "  it  seem- 
ed very  difficult  to  unite  them."  The  appearance  and 
labors  of  a  new  minister  served  for  a  time  to  repress  rising 
animosities,  and  in  proportion  as  attachment  drew  them 
towards  their  minister,  it  drew  them  nearer  each  other. 
The  process  of  the  election  was  conducted  in  a  very  friendly 
manner,  though  some  votes  were  given  to  another  candi- 
date. "  When  they  saw  how  large  a  majority  there  was  in 
my  favor,  the  minority  proposed  that  the  call  should  be 
unanimous,  and  cheerfully  fell  in  with  the  majority." 

Having  stated  this  fact  in  one  place,  in  another  he  says : 
"  It  is  a  field  of  labor  into  which  I  shall  enter  with  joy,  and 
I  now  feel  my  whole  heart  given  up  to  it.  My  anticipations 
of  usefulness  and  of  comfort  are  far  more  pleasing  than 
they  ever  have  been  before.  It  is  true  I  have  had,  and  still 
have  some  fears  and  anxieties  as  to  my  competency  to  fill 
such  a  station,  and  I  know  it  will  require  unremitting  dili- 
gence and  strenuous  exertion  on  my  part.  Yet  I  trust  the 
Lord,  who  has  guided  my  way  thither,  will  be  with  me  there, 
and  crown  my  labors  with  his  blessing,  and  fill  my  soul  with 
the  joys  of  his  salvation." 

His  mind  had  been  for  some  time  so  much  occupied  with 


92  MEMOIR     OF 


great  toM of  property.  Prayer  answered.  Arrives  in  Baltimore. 


the  prospect  of  the  spiritual  work  before  him,  that  he  had 
been  accustomed  to  "  pray  much  that  the  Lord  would  order 
all  my  affairs  in  such  a  way,  as  most  to  promote  his  glory 
and  my  best  interests."  This  prayer  was  answered  by  the 
loss  of  between  three  thousand  and  four  thousand  dollars, 
the  consequence  of  a  conflagration.  "  Yet  1  am  not  dis- 
tressed by  the  event.  I  feel  no  disposition  to  complain." 
He  had  indeed  lost  much  of  his  interest  in  his  temporal 
concerns,  and  therefore  his  mind  suffered  little. 

But  his  anxieties  on  other  subjects  were  at  this  time  so 
great,  as  not  only  to  deprive  him  of  rest,  but  to  exhaust  his 
strength,  and  lay  him  for  a  time  on  a  sick  bed.  Fearing  a 
season  of  illness,  he  supplicated  the  Lord  to  restore  him  to 
health  and  to  his  family.  This  prayer,  too,  was  answered. 
He  soon  recovered,  and  left  Baltimore  for  his  residence  in 
Virginia,  praising  (he  Lord,  and  chiding  himself  for  unbe- 
lief, "O  that  I  may  never  henceforth  distrust  the  goodness 
and  the  mercy  of  my  Heavenly  Father  !" 

On  the  22d  of  February,  Mr.  Walton  arrived  with  his 
family  in  Baltimore,  to  take  charge  of  his  new  congrega- 
tion. On  the  next  day,  he  commenced  his  labors,  though 
his  lungs  were  in  so  irritable  a  state — the  consequence  of  a 
cold — as  almost  to  prevent  him  from  speaking.  In  his  diary 
he  thus  writes  :  "  I  feel  my  need  of  divine  aid  more  than  ever 
before.  I  now  desire  to  devote  my  whole  time  to  the  Lord 
in  the  work  of  the  ministry.  I  desire  my  whole  heart  and 
soul  to  be  engaged  in  it.  I  desire  to  be  greatly  useful  here. 
This  desire  is  so  strong  and  habitual,  that  I  seldom  feel 
and  never  cherish  any  other  repugnant  to  it.  I  long  for  a 
revival  to  my  own  soul  and  to  the  congregation." 

Returning  from  church  that  evening,  his  soul  was  so  full 
of  love  for  sinners,  he  poured  out  his  feelings  in  presence  of 
the  Elder's  family,  with  whom  he  sojourned,  until  deep 
solemnity  pervaded  the  whole  family,  and  some  were  melt- 
ed to  tears.     It  was  one  of  those  seasons,  when  the  servant 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  93 


Subject  of  baptism.  Health  impaired. 


of  the  Lord  feels  as  if  he  could  impart,  not  the   gospel  of 
God  only,  but  his  own  soul  to  the  objects  of  his  solicitude. 

"  Feb.  23. — I  have  been  informed  that  my  preaching, 
when  I  was  here  before,  was  blessed  to  a  young  man  who 
had  been  addicted  to  intoxication,  and  that  he  now  appears 
to  be  reformed,  and  attends  meetings  regularly.  Thank 
God  for  this  token  for  good  !  " 

"  Sabbath  evening,  March  2. — Went  to  church  this 
morning,  feeble,  and  with  no  pleasing  anticipations  as  to 
the  performance.  But  the  Lord  gave  nae  strength  in  body 
and  soid,  and  enabled  me  to  preach  more  to  the  satisfaction 
of  the  people  than  ever  before.  I  preached  for  brother  Nev- 
ins  this  afternoon,  but  had  to  exert  myself  so  much  to  be 
heard,  that  it  was  a  painful  effort.  He  preached  for  me  this 
evening  a  very  good  sermon.  I  trust  good  has  been  done 
this  day.  May  the  Lord  follow  our  labors,  and  the  labors 
of  all  his  servants,  with  his  blessing  !  The  congregation  is 
increasing.  My  hopes  are  rising.  But  my  poor,  feeble, 
feverish  body,  has  suffered  much  under  the  excitement  and 
the  labors  of  the  day.  I  feel  this  to  be  a  critical  period  in 
this  congregation.  It  is  very  important  that  we  make  a  good 
beginning,  and  we  have  some  difficulties  and  perplexities  to 
encounter." 

Soon  after  coming  to  Baltimore,  his  mind  was  led,  in 
consequence  of  its  unsettled  views,  to  investigate  the  subject 
of  the  baptism  of  the  children  of  non-communicants.  The 
result  of  his  inquiries  was,  that  he  felt  it  his  duty  to  adopt 
the  strict  plan  of  baptism.  To  that  sense  of  duty,  as  was 
characteristic  of  the  man,  he  constantly  adhered.  He  says  : 
"  I  have  had  a  few  applications  from  others,  but  I  have  al- 
ways, I  believe,  satisfied  them  that  I  was  right  in  declining. 
In  two  instances,  I  have  hopes  that  this  measure  will  have 
a  good  effect." 

I  find  by  his  journal  that  some  disciples  were  added  at 
each  communion. 

In  the  month  of  April,  after  an  absence  of  some  weeks 
in  Virginia,  Mr.  W.  returned  to  Baltimore,  in  a  state  of 
health  little  improved  by  his  journey.     Having  thrown  up 


94  MEMOIR    OF 


Advantage  of  trials. 


a  quantity  of  blood,  "  I  was  a  good  deal  agitated,  and  it 
gave  rise  to  very  serious,  and  solemn,  and,  I  hope,  profita- 
ble exercises  of  mind.  I  began  to  wonder  what  the  Lord 
was  about  to  do  with  me,  and  whether  I  had  mistaken  all 
the  occurrences,  which  seemed  to  say  it  was  my  duty  to  go 
to  Baltimore.  I  refrained  from  eating  animal  food,  and  eat 
but  little  of  any  thing,  until  1  became  extremely  weak,  and 
shortly  before  I  left  Bethany,  my  strength  was  so  entirely 
prostrate;!,  alter  attending  to  the  loading  of  a  wagon,  and 
my  fever  so  very  high,  that  I  thought  certainly  I  have  all  the 
symptoms  of  the  consumption.  Mvdespondency  was  great. 
I  felt  as  if  it  would  be  impossible  for  me  to  get  to  Baltimore, 
or  to  do  any  more  service  in  the  world.  *  *  However, 
I  struggled  and  prayed  against  such  feelings,  and  endeav- 
ored to  acquiesce  in  the  divine  will.  I  believe  on  the  whole, 
these  exercises  of  mind,  though  very  distressing,  were  pro- 
fitable, and  have  left  an  abiding  impression.  I  now  feel  and 
preach  more  under  the  realizing  apprehension  of  eternal 
things  than  ever  before ;  and  my  preaching  has  recently 
been  attended  with  unusual  tenderness  of  feeling,  freedom, 
and  fervency." 

"  May  12. — My  health  is  still  very  delicate,  and  I  am 
often  very  feeble,  and  weighed  down  under  a  load  of  melan- 
ancholy.  This,  however,  does  not  lessen,  in  any  degree, 
my  purpose  to  lay  myself  out  here,  for  promoting  the  cause 
of  Christ  to  the  extent  of  my  power.  But  when  I  am  so  fee- 
ble, so  unable  to  make  much  effort  of  body  or  of  mind,  and 
consider  how  much  is  here  to  be  done  and  /io/r  murk  depends 
upon  me  just  at  this  time,  I  am  often  ready  to  sink.  But  I 
struggle  against  the  workings  of  unbelief,  and  cry  to  the 
Lord  for  help ;  and  blessed  be  His  name,  He  does  help  me 
often,  in  secret  and  in  public.  Last  Sabbath,  I  preached 
twice  with  much  freedom  and  fervency,  and  I  do  not  remem- 
ber ever  to  have  prayed  so  earnestly  for  the  divine  aid  and 
blessing  upon  myself,  and  particularly  for  the  people,  that 
they  might  he  abundantly  benefitted." 

"  June  6. — Administered  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's 
Supper  last  Sabbath.     Received  nine  or  ten  new  members. 


WILLIAM    C.WALTON.  95 

Payson's  distress. 

There  have  recently  been  a  number  of  applications  for  pews. 
All  this  is  encouraging,  and  I  desire  to  praise  the  Lord  for 
it.  Two  or  three  times,  lately,  I  have  had  a  spitting  of 
blood;  and  such  is  my  state  of  body  at  this  time,  that  I  am 
every  day  expecting  a  return  of  it.  I  have  to  be  very  care- 
ful and  uniform  in  my  diet,  exercise,  the  state  of  my  bow- 
els, &c.  This  has  often  produced  depression,  and  I  have 
been  advised,  by  physicians,  to  give  up  preaching;  and  by 
brother  Nevins  to  leave  here  for  a  time,  and  go  to  Virginia. 
But  I  cannot  see  my  way  clear  to  do  either.  It  would  indeed 
be  a  great  affliction  to  me  to  give  up  preaching." 

"I  have  been  lecturing  extempore  on  Thursday  evenings 
lately.  Twice  I  have  gone  through  tolerably  well ;  but  last 
night  I  labored  and  failed  m  my  own  apprehension,  and  felt 
deeply  mortified.  May  the  Lord  sanctify  to  me  such  trials, 
and  give  me  grace  to  do  his  work  better." 

"June  8. — I  have  often  been  strongly  impressed  with  the 
belief  that  I  shall  soon  be  taken  off  with  the  consumption. 
Reading  the  life  of  Pearce,  who  died  with  that  complaint, 
has  deepened  that  impression.  My  bodily  weakness  and 
frequent  indispositions  have,  I  hope,  been  in  a  measure 
sanctified  to  me.  I  feel  more  serious  and  thoughtful,  more 
weaned  from  the  world  than  probably  I  should  otherwise 
have  been.  I  do  not  suffer  myself  to  indulge  an  expecta- 
tion of  living  long." 

On  the  evening  of  the  Sabbath,  June  13,  he  preached  for 
Dr.  Glendy,  and  exerted  himself  beyond  his  strength.  The 
next  day  he  writes  :  "  This  morning,  I  am  completely  pros- 
trated, and  feel  almost  like  giving  up  the  ghost.  I  long  for 
clearer  manifestations  of  my  Saviour's  love  to  my  soul,  and 
for  a  sweet  acquiescence  in  a/l  his  dialing.-;  with  me.  I  feel 
a  strong  desire,  and  constantly  pray  that  my  afflictions  and 
trials  may  be  sanctified  to  me.  I  have  often  found  of  late, 
that  any  change  in  my  feelings  for  the  worse,  depresses  me. 
The  Lord  pity  my  infirmities,  and  pardon  my  sins,  and  give 
me  such  views  of  Himself  and  of  Heaven  as  will  render 
death  desirable  !  "  Such  prayers  are  often  answered.  "I 
have,"  said  Payson,  "  suffered  every  conceivable  kind  of 
spiritual  distress  myself,  and  have  seen  too  much  of  the 


96  MEMOIH     OF 


Singular  remark.  The  dawn  of  light. 


good  effects  of  it,  to  be  much  grieved,  when  I  see  others 
suffering  the  same.  I  know  that  Christ  is  with  them  in  the 
furnace,  and  will  bring  them  forth  as  gold,  and  therefore, 
though  I  sympathize  with  them,  I  am  rather  pleased  than 
sorry  to  see  them  distressed.  I  have  long  considered  a 
crowing  acquaintance  with  the  desperate  wickedness  and 
surpassing  deceitfulness  of  the  heart,  as  almost  the  only 
mark  of  a  real  Christian,  which  Satan  cannot  counterfeit." 
P.  222  of  Life.  Yet,  in  another  place  he  says,  with  char- 
acteristic strength  of  thought  and  peculiarity  of  manner, 
after  visiting  a  criminal  under  sentence  of  death  :  "  it  seemed 
as  if  I  would  willingly  have  been  hanged  in  his  place,  rather 
than  feel  as  I  did.  I  can  more  easily  believe  that  all  other 
things  work  together  for  good,  than  that  melancholy  does. 
It  appears  to  be  full  of  evil,  and  to  be  productive  of  no  man- 
ner of  good,  either  to  myself  or  others."      p.  1C3. 

If  the  natural  darkness,  which  precedes  the  dawn,  is 
sometimes  intense,  the  same  may  be  said  of  that  mysterious 
gloom,  which,  at  times,  overspreads  the  mind  of  a  Christian 
minister,  and  oppresses  his  soul.  It  was  the  lot  of  Walton, 
during  this  summer,  to  be  greeted  with  a  brighter  dawn  in 
his  spiritual  affairs.  Indeed,  his  mind  underwent  a  revolution, 
more  especially  with  respect  to  the  doctrine  of  revivals,  of 
which,  previously  to  this  period,  he  had  entertained  inade- 
quate conceptions;  a  revolution  that  affected  his  whole  sub- 
sequent ministry.  A  conversation  held  with  a  brother,  who 
was  providentially  visiting  him,  had  the  effect  to  awaken  in 
his  mind  a  new  train  of  thought  on  the  important  subject  of 
dealing  with  immortal  souls.  Much  was  said  on  the  ways 
and  means  of  presenting  truth  to  the  mind;  on  the  advan- 
tages of  one  style  of  preaching,  and  the  disadvantages  of 
another;  on  the  causes  of  the  different  success,  so  far  as 
human  agency  is  concerned,  of  different  preachers,  and  on 
the  general  mode  of  conduct  in  those  precious  seasons  of 
the  outpouring  of  the  Spirit,  which  have  distinguished  our 
American  Israel. 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON,  07 

Importance  of  exertion.  Effort  i >ng  the  young. 


Mr.  Walton's  mind  began  to  awake  to  the  importance  of 
exertion  for  the  salvation  of  sinners.  Could  nothing  be 
done?  Must  not  the  labors  of  the  pulpit  be  followed  up 
and  sustained  by  private  expostulation?  Was  it  in  the 
nature  of  mind  to  be  permanently  affected  by  a  subject,  how- 
ever sacred  and  awful,  which  was  presented  to  it  but  one 
day  in  seven,  while  subjects  of  an  opposite  character  en- 
grossed the  remaining  six  days?  And  that,  too,  when  from 
the  former  the  natural  heart  instinctively  revolts,  while 
around  the  latter  it  clings  with  ardent  fondness?  And 
when,  too,  the  former  subject  comes  in  general  terms  to  a 
hearer,  in  common  with  hundreds  of  other  hearers,  while 
with  the  latter  he  enters  into  immediate  and  interested  con- 
tact, and  is  affected  as  an  individual  by  all  around  him. 
Questions  and  considerations  like  these  occurred  to  his 
mind,  and  be  resolved  to  try  the  influence  of  personal  effort 
for  the  salvation  of  individuals.  His  attention  was,  in  the 
first  place,  naturally  directed  to  the  young.  A  few  of  them 
were  assembled  at  his  house,  and  solemnly  addressed  on  the 
concerns  of  eternity,  after  which,  special  prayer  was  offered 
for  their  salvation.  Much  seriousness  and  feeling  pervaded 
the  meeting.  On  the  next  Sabbath,  Mr.  W\,  whose  heart 
had  been  drawn  forth  in  earnest  prayer  for  a  divine  unction 
upon  his  own  soul,  as  well  as  upon  his  people,  preached 
with  unusual  animation  on  the  subject  which  engrossed  his 
mind — the  necessity  of  the  reviving  influences  of  the  Spirit. 
After  service,  he  requested  those  who  desired  to  unite  in 
supplications  and  labors  for  so  great  a  blessing,  to  remain 
in  the  house  after  the  congregation  had  retired.  "  A  con- 
siderable number  remained.  We  conversed  with  them  for 
some  time,  and  proposed  that  the  members  of  the  church 
should  meet,  two  or  three  together,  every  Monday  evenincr, 
to  converse  and  pray  for  a  revival.  I  believe  a  number  have 
complied.  Last  Monday  evening,  we  had  another  meeting 
of  young  people  at  my  house,  while  others  were  prayincrfor 
9 


98  MEMOIR    OP 


Preaches  on  the  subject  of  a  revival. 


us.  This  was  still  more  interesting  and  solemn.  Four  or 
five  agreed  to  meet  us  at  the  throne  of  grace,  at  10  o'clock, 
and  we  promised  to  pray  for  them  while  they  were  praying 
for  themselves.  Monday  and  Tuesday  we  visited  and  con- 
versed with  the  people,  from  house  to  house.  We  had  some 
solemn  scenes.  On  Tuesday  evening,  our  prayer  meeting 
was  full,  and  such  a  meeting  I  never  saw  before.  Much 
feelino-  was  excited.  A  number  of  persons,  young  and  old, 
now  appear  to  be  under  deep  conviction.  *  *  *  I  feel 
a  deeper  sense  of  my  responsibility,  and  of  my  need  of  wis- 
dom and  grace  at  this  time,  than  I  ever  did  before.  I  feel 
like  one  awaking  out  of  sleep.  I  lament  and  am  in  some 
measure  humbled  for  my  past  negligence  and  unfaithful- 
ness. It  grieves  me  to  think  how  many  opportunities  of 
usefulness  I  have  failed  to  improve.  I  earnestly  desire  and 
pray  for  pardon  for  the  past,  and  that  I  may  know  and  feel 
more  of  the  power  of  God,  than  I  have  ever  yet  known  and 
felt." 

Of  the  brother  already  adverted  to,  Mr.  Walton  records, 
that  "  he  has  been  the  means  of  exciting  my  mind  to  think 
and  labor  on  subjects  connected  with  revivals,  and  he  has 
given  me  more  clear  and  impressive  views  of  the  manner  in 
which  a  conviction  of  sin  is  to  be  fastened  on  the  conscience, 
and  of  dealing  with  persons  under  distress  of  mind,  than  I 
ever  had  before.  It  appears  to  me  like  a  new  and  grand 
discovery.  I  would  not  exchange  it  for  the  world.  It 
seems  to  me  that  I  never  before  knew  what  directions  to 
give  to  awakened  sinners.  I  fear  I  have  left  my  former 
hearers  in  a  state  of  delusion.  I  feel  awful  to  think  of  my 
past  ignorance  and  unfaithfulness,  and  am  resolved,  hence- 
forth, with  the  help  of  God,  to  be  wholly  devoted  to  His 
work  and  glory." 

"  Friday,  June  17. — More  than  usual  attended  our  meet- 
ing last  night.  Some  I  never  saw  before.  It  was  solemn  ; 
I  felt  more  than  ordinary  excitement,  but  not  much  of  the 


WILLIAM     C.     WALTON.  99 

Attacked  with  bleeding  ;n  the  lunge. 

presence  of  God,  nor  nuich  of  the  spirit  of  prayer.  I  hope 
t.o-(l.iv  I  feel  more  of  that  spirit,  an  increasing  conviction  of 
my  guilt  ;md  unworthiness,  and  an  increasing  desire  for  a 
revival.  I  long  to  feel  more  of  the  power  of  religion,  and 
to  he  enabled  to  serve  God  with  pure  motives,  and  with  a 
heart  entirely  given  up  to  Him.  But  my  mind  is  in  much 
darkness.  1  feel  as  if  I  knew  very  little  ahout  God.  But  I 
am  led  to  pray,  '  O  Lord,  1  beseech  thee  show  me  thy 
glory.'  " 

"June  29,  Sab. — Yesterday  evening  commenced  a  Bible 
Class  with  an  encouraging  prospect.  To-day  preached  from 
J  lab.  iii.  2:  O  hard  revive  thy  work,  Sfc,  with  unusual 
freedom  and  fervency.  Several  times  during  the  service, 
particularly  towards  the  close  of  it,  and  in  the  last  prayer,  I 
was  much  affected.  1  wept,  and  felt  more  of  the  spirit  of 
intercession  than  I  ever  did  before  in  public.  I  trust  good 
was  done." 

In  the  month  of  July,  Mr.  W.  in  taking  a  journey  to 
Philadelphia,  was  constrained  to  ask  medical  advice  in  that 
city.  "  The  journey  brought  me  down  almost  to  the  low- 
est degree  of  human  weakness.  I  began  seriously  to  think 
I  should  soon  leave  the  world.  I  consulted  Dr.  Physick  on 
my  case,  but  he  gave  me  little  satisfaction.  I  conversed 
with  Dr.  Wilson,  who  had  often  bled  at  the  lungs,  and  from 
the  description  he  gave  me  of  his  feelings,  I  was  confirmed 
in  the  belief  that  the  blood  I  have  expectorated  did  not  come 
from  my  lungs." 

"July  15. — Have  a  cold  and  cough,  accompanied  yester- 
day and  last  night  with  a  good  deal  of  inflammatory  action. 
Was  bled  last  night.  Expectoration  yesterday  a  little  tinged 
once  with  blood.  Strongly  impressed  again  with  the  ap- 
prehension that  I  am  going  into  a  decline.  Darkness  and 
deadness  of  soul ;  no  freedom  in  prayer  ;  far  from  feeling 
as  submissive  as  I  ought  to  God ;  could  not  feel  unreserv- 
edly and  cordially  willing  that  He  should  do  with  me  and 
mine,  as  seemeth  good  in  his  sight.  This  morning,  also, 
while  thinking  of  the  passage — '  Worthy  is  the  Lamb  that 
was  slain,'  I  felt  as  if,  with  my  present  views  of  Christ,  I 
could  not  cordially  and  humbly   unite  in  that  ascription  of 


100  MEMOIR     OP 


Solemn  reflections  al  church. 


praise.  It  was  the  result  of  pride,  and  defective  views  of 
the  character  of  Christ.  It  made  me  feel  very  unhappy,  and 
I  could  not  prav  with  any  comfort  or  enlargement  for  myself 
or  others,  for  I  felt  as  if  God  would  not  regard  me.  It  was 
similar  to  those  exercises  of  mind  that  1  had  not  long,  after 
1  went  to  Hampden  Sydney-  I  looked  too  much  at  the  hu- 
man  nature   of  Christ.      But  sometime   after,  I  had  a  long 

conversation  with  brother ,  on  divine  sovereignty  and 

glory,  and  man's  duty,  particularly  Christian  duties  and  ob- 
ligations. I  then  retired  to  pray — had  some  freedom  and 
enlargement.  I  then  lay  down,  and  closed  my  eyes,  and 
meditated  on  the  character  and  glory  of  Christ,  and  had 
more  exalted  and  comfortable  views  of  Him,  and  felt  a  more 
entire  willingness  to  be  in  his  hands,  and  a  more  unreserved 
submission  to  Him,  though  lie  should  condemn  me,  than  I 
ever  did  before.  I  have  had  more  humiliating  views  of  my 
own  heart,  as  being  totally  depraved,  and  of  my  past  life, 
as  being  altogether  sinful,  inexpressibly  defective  in  right 
motives,  and  zealous  endeavors,  than  ever  before.  I  now 
feel  that  I  ought  to  make  an  unreserved  surrender  of  myself 
and  all  I  have,  to  God;  to  be  disposed  of  for  His  glory,  and 
desire  to  aim  supremely  at  that  object,  and  to  approve  my- 
self a  faithful  servant  the  remnant  of  my  days,  while  I  depend 
entirely  on  the  merits  of  Christ  for  my  pardon,  acceptance, 
and  salvation." 

One  remark  should  not  be  omitted  here,  that  the  reader 
may  ask  himself,  is  it  so  with  me?  "I  feel  much  more 
interested  in  the  Biblr  lately  than  ever,  and  much  less  con- 
cerned about  popularity." 

"  July  29 ',  Monday. — On  Saturday  evening,  I  coughed 
up  blood  a  number  of  times,  twice  through  the  night,  and 
also  on  the  Sabbath  morning.  I  was  bled.  In  a  very  fee- 
ble state,  I  was  taken  to  church.  As  soon  as  I  was  seated 
in  the  pulpit  and  looked  around  on  the  people,  I  was  almost 
overwhelmed  with  my  feelings.  This  state  of  feeling  contin- 
ued, with  some  variation,  until  the  whole  service  was  over. 
I  administered  the  Lord's  supper.  I  felt  as  if  it  might  prob- 
ably be  the  last  time,  and  I  gave  the  communicants  a  sol- 
emn charge  to  live  to  the  glory  of  God ;  and  to  sinners,  to 
flee  from  the  wrath  to  come ;  telling  them  that  I  would  be 


WILLIAM    C.    W  A  LT  ON.  101 

Visit  to  Virginia.  State  of  mind. 

a  witness  against  them  at  the  judgment  Beat,  if  they  did  not. 
The  whole  service  was  very  solemn,  and  1  hope  good  was 
done.  Spent  the  greater  part  of  the  day  in  reflection,  self- 
examination  and  prayer.  *  *  *  I  have  not  yet  those 
clear  views  of  the  glorious  character  of  God  which  I  ought 
to  have,  nor  that  disinterested  concern  that  his  kingdom 
may  be  promoted,  and  His  glory  displayed,  which  Brainard 
speaks  of,  and  which  ought  to  characterize  every  Christian. 
This  is  what  I  now  lahor  for.  Lord,  satisfy  this  desire  of 
my  heart,  and  do  with  me  as  it  may  seem  good  in  thy  sight." 

"  Oct.  10. — Last  Saturday,  we  returned  from  Virginia. 
We  have  been  afflicted  more  than  ever  before.  Our  chil- 
dren were  all  sick  ;  the  youngest  has  been  very  low  for  more 
than  two  months.  *  *  *  During  my  absence,  in  trav- 
elling and  mixing  with  company,  I  hecame  very  cold  and 
insensible;  lost  the  spirit  of  prayer,  and  was  part  of  the 
time  in  deep  melancholy  and  depression.  My  distress  was 
unspeakable  at  times  ;  but  it  seemed  to  partake  too  much  of 
that  sorrow  of  the  world  which  worketh  death.  I  believe  I 
sinned  against  the  Lord  by  indulging  it.  And  yet,  not- 
withstanding all  my  sins,  the  Lord  still  exercised  His  mercy 
and  forbearance  towards  me ;  my  health,  on  the  whole, 
improved  very  much. 

On  returning,  I  found  the  congregation  considerably 
increased  ;  the  meetings  more  numerously  attended  ;  a  num- 
ber rejoicing  in  hope,  and  many  anxious.  My  heart  was 
very  cold  and  disconsolate.  I  could  not  feel  much  for  others, 
nor  for  myself.  I  felt  that  I  had  lost  a  great  deal  in  my  spir- 
itual interests,  and  was  unfit  for  any  duty.  I  had,  and  still 
have  fears  that  I  have  never  had  such  views  of  God  and  of 
myself  as  produce  true  humility  and  repentance.  I  cannot 
feel  and  realize  the  gnat  evil  of  sin,  nor  the  dangerous  and 
deplorable  condition  of  sinners.  I  don't  feel  my  heart  con- 
strained by  the  love  of  Christ  as  it  ought  to  be.  There  is 
much  darkness  and  confusion  resting  on  my  mind.  I  feel 
that  I  want  power  to  believe  the  promises  of  God,  and  the 
necessity  and  reality  of  the  operations  of  His  Spirit  on  the 
mind,  to  deliver  it  from  darkness  and  sin.  I  try  constant- 
ly to  believe  and  to  realize  these  things,  and  perhaps  I  do 
in  some  low  degree. 

As  this  is  the  day  for  examining  and  receiving  new  com- 
municants, we  have  set  it  apart  for  fasting  and  prayer." 

"Sabbath,  Oct.  12. — We  this  dav  administered  the  Lord's 
9* 


1 02  MEMOIR     OP 


Excellent  effectsof  parochial  \  imitation.  Nothing  can  be  substituted  tor  it. 

Supper, — 1G  added, — 2  baptized.  I  preached  last  Sabbath 
and  to-day,  from  a  skeleton,  and  without  any  difficulty.  I 
find  it  the  easiest  method  of  preaching  that  1  have  yet  tried. 
In  addressing  sinners  after  the  communion  services,  I  had 
much  liberty  and  affection.  We  have  had  solemn  meetings 
during  the  last  week.  Two  found  rest  in  my  house.  We 
have  been  much  engaged  in  prayer  and  visiting." 

These  visits  were  useful  on  various  accounts.  They 
served  to  render  the  minister  better  acquainted  with  the 
minds  of  his  people  ;  to  give  permanence  to  the  instructions 
of  the  Sabbath;  to  multiply  the  responsibilities  of  the  hear- 
er; to  set  him  on  a  course  of  practical  thinking;  to  stimu- 
late and  strengthen  the  Christian  ;  in  fine,  to  invigorate 
the  graces  and  awaken  the  sensibilities  of  the  pastor  him- 
self. It  reminds  one  of  th^  indefatigable  diligence  and 
thorough  work  of  the  man.  who,  though  he  had  the  care  of 
all  the  churches,  '  by  the  space  of  three  years,  ceased  not 
to  warn  every  one  night  and  day  with  tears.'  No  pre-em- 
inence in  preaching — no  diligence  in  the  use  of  the  author's 
pen,  can  make  up  for  the  want  of  discharging  that  duty — so 
much  neglected — of  parochial  visitation.  The  people,  if 
inclined,  have  no  right  to  absolve  their  pastor  from  this  ob- 
ligation. That  right  is  vested  only  in  the  Head  of  the 
Church,  and  He,  both  by  example  and  precept,  has  inculca- 
ted the  duty.  '  Ye  have  scattered  my  flock,  and  have  not  vis- 
ited them.'  '  Preach  the  word;  be  instant  in  season,  out  of 
season,  fyc.' 

Mr.  Walton  after  entering  in  his  diary  the  fact  of  his 
having  paid  twelve  visits,  remarks  that  he  had  "seen  much 
to  convince  him  of  the  utility  of  preaching  from  house  to 
house."  If  in  the  midst  of  active  labors  and  exemplary 
usefulness,  the  pious  pastor  feels  this,  how  will  he  not 
appreciate  this  means  of  doing  good,  when  from  the  bed  of 
death  he  reviews  his  ministerial  life  !  '  The  life  of  a  min- 
ister is  the  life  of  his  ministry.'  Said  James  Hervey  on  his 
death-bed  to  his  curate,  "  How  much  has  Christ  done  for 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  103 

llervey's  dying  confession.  The  cane  of  a  reprobate. 


me,  and  how  little  have  I  done  for  so  loving  a  Saviour  !  If 
I  preached  even  once  a  week,  it  was  at  last  a  burden  to  me. 
I  have  not  visited  the  people  of  my  parish,  as  I  ought  to 
have  done,  and  thus  have  preached,  as  it  were,  from  house 
to  house.  I  have  not  taken  every  opportunity  of  speaking 
for  Christ."  And  a  gush  of  tears  attested  the  sincerity  of 
the  dying  Rector's  emotions.  "  Do  not  think,"  he  added, 
"  that  I  am  afraid  to  die.  I  assure  you  I  am  not.  I  know 
what  my  Saviour  hath  done  for  me,  and  I  want  to  be  gone. 
But  I  wonder  and  lament,  to  think  of  the  love  of  Christ  in 
doing  so  much  for  me,  and  how  little  I  have  done  for  him." 
How  little,  reader,  hast  thou  done  for  Him  ! 

"  Oct.  11. — Paid  four  visits;  felt   deeply  concerned  for 

one  young  woman  in  great  distress.      Miss ,   saw  a 

young  man  who  had  been  under  impressions,  but  who  says 
he  has  now  sold  himself  to  the  Devil — that  if  hell  was  open 
before  him  he  would  jump  right  into  it!  He  has  pious 
parents.  A  young  woman  died  in  this  city  this  week,  who 
said,  before  her  death,  she  felt  the  scorching  of  hell-fire, 
and  begged  her  mother  to  sprinkle  water  on  her  face  and 
breast." 

Cases  so  fearfully  affecting  as  these,  startle  the  mind,  and 
even  produce  a  sensation  of  mental  pain.  Nor  is  it  allevi- 
ated by  the  reflection,  that  they  are  matters  not  of  imagi- 
native fiction,  but  of  melancholy  fact.  The  writer  was 
acquainted  with  a  young  man,  the  subject  of  frequent  con- 
viction, of  an  enlightened  intellect,  and  a  warm  heart,  who 
to  the  habitual  resistance  of  these  convictions,  added  at 
length  the  crime  of  breaking  covenant  with  God,  discard- 
ing his  Christian  profession,  and  plunging  into  open  vice. 
One  day,  as  he  was  pacing  the  room  with  strong  emotion, 
which  exhibited  itself  in  the  restlessness  of  his  eye,  the 
paleness  of  his  cheek,   and  the  hurry  of  his  step,  a  friend 

asked  him  ;   "  ~\Vhat  is  the  matter  with  you ?" 

"Matter  !"  replied  he,  "  I'm  a  devil  incarnate,  that  is  the 
matter  /" 


104  MEMOIR    OP 


Stubborn  sinners.  Lost  siniiurs. 

Not  long  after  this  he  descended  to  the  tomb,  under  cir- 
cumstances the  most  affecting,*  and  even  appalling. 

"  Tuesday,  14. — Four  visits — the  most  interesting  day  T 

ever  saw.     In  Mrs.  's  family,  four  persons  submitted  in 

about  an  hour.  I  have  remarked  that  those  who  have 
striven  most  against  their  convictions,  have  the  most  pun- 
gent and  awful  distress.      Little who,  one  would 

suppose,  would  have  yielded  directly,  was  the  most  stub- 
born of  all  and  did  not  give  up  even  to  the  last.  At  night 
we  had  the  most  interesting,  and  solemn,  and  awful  meeting 
in  the  Session  room  ;  two  persons  there  submitted,  and 
many  more  in  distress.     My  text  was,  '  Behold  I  stand  at 


*  The  Rev.  Mr.  Baker,  the  early  friend  and  bosom  companion  of  Walton,  from  the 
stores  of  his  recent  rich  experience,  presents  us  the  following  painful,  but  instructive 
facts : 

"  At  a  meeting  in  Alabama,  which  was  much  blessed,  there  was  a  man  present  one 
night,  who  was  considerably  impressed  :  he  wept  abundantly.  Upon  retiring  from 
the  Church,  however,  and  meeting  with  some  of  his  wicked  associates,  he  was  rather 
BShamed  of  the  feelings  which  he  had  manifested.  And  being  asked  how  he  liked  the 
preacher?  'I  was  fool  enough  to  cry,' said  he  '  when  he  preached.'  Two  days  after 
that,  at  his  usual  Work,  he  dropped  dead  !  " 

"Mr.  R ,  a  young  man  in  strong  health,  good  circumstances,  and  lately  mar- 
ried, was  present  during  a  memorable  meeting   held   at  ,  South  Carolina.     He 

lodged  in  the  same  bouse  that  I  did.  When  he  saw  many  around  him  pressing  into 
the  kingdom,  he  was  evidently  not  at  rest  in  his  own  mind  ;  but  be  was  not  converted. 
About  two  days  alter  the  meeting  closed,  he  was  taken  ill.  Perceiving  at  last  that  he 
must  die,  be  sent  for  a  Baptist  preacher.  The  man  of  God  came  (it  was  early  in  the 
morning.)  and  found  him  in  a  state  of  great  mental  agony.  ( Ippresscd  with  a  sense  of 
his  guilt,  the  sick  man  cried,  '  Oh  for  forgiveness  !  '  The  minister  told  him  that  there 
was  forgiveness  with  God  through  a  crucified  Redeemer.  'No!  no!'  replied  he, 
•  but  I  don't  feel  it  here' — laving  his  hand  upon  bis  bosom — '  I  don't  feel  it  hire,  sir.' 
What  could  the  man  of  God  do  1  lie  mentioned  a  variety  of  promises.  r>ut  none 
administered  any  consolation.  '  My  day  of  grace  is  over,'  said  the  dying  man.  '  My 
day  of  grace  is  over,  s;r.  and  what  is  more,  I  know  when  it  closed.  It  closed  When 
that  meeting  dOSi  d  I  am  lost !  and  it  is  all  owing  to  my  pride.'  Here  some  one  inter- 
rupted the  conversation  by  comii  ;  In  and  Inviting  the  minister  to  go  into  another  room 
to  breakfast.  When  he  had  withdrawn, some  one  requested  Mr.  K.  to  compose  him- 
self »n ii I  sleep  a  little.  '  Slei  p  ! '  said  lie,  '  Sleep  !  1  have  no  time  to  sleep  now  :  I  must 
spend  all  my  time  in  prayer  now  ! '  Alas :  the  angel  of  death  was  come  !  Hi  began 
to  die!  Perceiving  it,  his  wife  in  the  paroxysm  of  grief  and  affection,  threw  herself 
upon  the  bosom  of  her  expiring  husband,  and  shrieked  aloud.  This  roused  him  for  a 
moment,  and  with  a  certain  look  of  the  ey*»,  never  to  be  forgotten,  he  exclaimed, 
'  Lord  Jesus  ! '  and  expired  !  Here  I  am  reminded  of  the  words  of  the  Rev.  Rowland 
II  hi,  when  lie  was  sinking  in  death  :  'Jesus  Christ  is  every  tiling  to  a  dying  man.' 


WILLIAM    C.WALTON.  105 

Twenty  two  families  visited.  The  fugitive. 

t he  door,'  6pc.      It  was  while  pressing  that  at   Mrs.  L 's 

that  the  work  begun  there." 

"Wednesday    eve.,    15. — Visited   eight  families — awful 

and  glorious  scenes  in  two  meetings  this  afternoon  and 
evening.  Ten  or  twelve  found  peace.  One  young  woman, 
as  soon  as  she  knew  her  cousin  had  given  herself  to  the 
Saviour,  was  filled  with  rage.  She  afterwards  found  peace. 
Last  night  when  she  heard  that  two  of  her  cousins  had 
found  peace,  she  was  enraged  all  night,  and  to-day  she  tried 
all  she  could  to  prevent  them  from  coming  to  meeting;  yet 
she  came  with  them,  and  when  her  cousin  found  peace,  she 

felt  as   if  she  could  kill   them   all  !     Miss   lost  her 

impressions  by  a  visit  to  the  country." 

"  Thursday  16. — Visited  seven  families.     P was  so 

much  enraged  when  his  wife  was  converted,  that  he  turned 
pale  and  trembled,  and  walked  about  in  such  away,  that  I 
thought  he  was  going  to  get  a  cane,  to  beat  us  out  of  the 
house — now  he  is  trembling  on  the  verge  of  hell — in  great 
agony.  lie  was  a  Universalis! ;  he  said  he  had  made  up 
his  mind." 

"Friday  17. — Visited  seven  families.     Mrs.    P left 

home,  and  staid  out  all  the  morning  to  avoid  our  visit,  and 
when  she  came  home  in  the  afternoon,    and  found  us  there 

conversing  with   Mrs.    L and   family,   she  walked  up 

stairs  lightly  to  avoid  us.  But  when  she  got  up  there,  she 
was  so  unhappy  she  was  constrained  to  go  down,  as  it  were, 
by  resistless  power,  and  there  she  found  the  Saviour."  * 

"Monday  mom.,    Oct.  29. — Mrs.  M 's  family  came 

*  A  minister  once  called  to  converse  with  a  family  on  the  subject  of  religion.  A 
gay  young  lady  perceived  him  from  the  window,  and  absconded  through  the  back 
door  to  the  house  of  a  neighbor,  saying  as  she  ran,  '  He  shall  not  gel  me  this  time.' 
The  minister  came  in  disappointed,  lie  bethought  himself  however  of  a  method  of 
reaching  the  fugitive,  and  picking  up  a  Bible  turned  down  a  leaf  at  the  passage  :  '  The 
wicked  flee  when  no  man  pursueth,1  and  requested  her  mother  to  hand  it  to  her  when 
Bhe should  return.  She  returned  in  triumphant  glee  after  the  preacher  bad  left  the 
house,  joyous  in  her  thoughtlessness,  when  her  mother  showed  her  the  passage.  She 
looked  at  it  ;  her  countenance  fell.  The  thought  struck  her  that  she  could  not  fly  from 
God,  from  whose  all  searching  eye,  not  the  remotest  distance,  nor  the  deepest  darkness 
could  hide  her.  Deep  convictions  succeeded  to  serious  reflections.  She  now  sought 
the  minister,  and  with  weeping  eyes,  made  her  apology  to  him,  which  was  rather  an 
humble  confession  than  an  apology.  '  Make  your  confession  to  God,  said  the  pastor  ; 
'Who  am  1?    You  have  done  me  neither  offence  nor  injury.    But  you  have  gieatly 

offended  God  and  injured  your  Saviour,  Miss  A ,  and  to  Him  you  must  go.' 

Such  an  anecdote  possesses  a  pleasant  interest,  and  suggests  solemn  reflections. 


1 60  MEMOIR    OF 


Awakened  sinners. 


from  Ireland  about  throe  years  ago,  and  they  appear  to  be 
very  orderly,  decent  people,  but  totally  ignorant  of  true 
religion.  They  said,  when  I  first  conversed  with  them, 
that  they  never  had  heard  of  any  such  a  thing  in  Ireland,  as 
conviction  and  conversion,  &c.  For  some  time  they  held 
their  old  notions  tenaciously,  and  said  my  doctrines  appear- 
ed very  strange  to  them — they  even  laughed  about  our  pro- 
ceedings. 15 11 1  at  length  one  of  her  daughters  was  convin- 
ced of  sin,  and  found  peace  just  in  the  way  that  other  lost 
sinners  do,  and  now  her  mother  is  in  deep  distress,  com- 
plaining in  anguish  that  her  heart  is  as  hard  as  a  stone." 

"After   anxious  meeting,   Mrs.  M and  Miss  IT 

were  in  awful  distress;  while  I  was  talking,  Mrs.  M.  fell 
on  her  knees  and  began  to  pray.  Miss  H.  and  herself 
remained  on  their  knees  I  suppose  for  two  hours,  and 
seemed  unwilling  to  go  away  at  last.  My  soul  is  oppressed 
with  anxiety  for  them.  But  at  last  I  became  willing  that 
the  Lord  should  do  as  He  pleased  with  them — and  convert 
them  w  hen  He  pleased." 

"  Tuesday  21. — Six  visits  ;  this  evening  while  conversing 
with  Miss  H.  at  my  house,  almost  without  hope  that  I  could 
do  her  any  more  good;  her  heart  was  softened,  her  burden 
left  her  ;  she  became  willing  to  rely  upon  Christ,  and  to 
give  herself  up  unreservedly  unto  Him.  She  was  greatly 
relieved  ;  but  no  animal  feeling  expressed,  still,  solemn  and 
not  very  talkative,  afraid  that  perhaps  it  might  not  be  con- 
version." 

"  Wednesday,  22. — Two  visits  ;  a  young  man  told  me 
he  had  been  under  impressions  for  several  years,  more  or 
less,  and  lately  more  than  ever,  but  last  Monday  evening  he 
lost  them  ;  and  he  believed  it  was  for  trifling  with  them  and 
refusing  to  submit,  and  now  he  says  he  cannot  feel  any  alarm 
or  concern  about  the  state  of  his  soul." 

"  Thursday,  23. — Four  visits;  Mrs.  M.  has  found  peace  ! 
She  was  much  alarmed  by  hearing  the  above  fact  related; 
was  almost  in  despair  for  a  day  or  two;  this  morning,  as 
she  awoke,  she  was  enabled  to  give  herself  to  the  Lord,  who 
took  away  the  stony  heart,  and  gave  a  heart  of  flesh." 

Allusion  has  already  been  made  to  the  very  timely  and 
perspicuous  exhibition  of  truth,  by  Mr.  Nettleton  during 
the  revival  in  Pittsfield,  in   1821,  especially  on  a  certain 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  107 

Mr.  Nettleton's  views.  Remark  of  Wliitefield. 

evening,  when  many  important  ideas  were  thrown  out  on 
the  subject  of  dealing  with  anxious  sinners,  which  seemed 
like  new  discoveries.  Many  received  the  truth  with  joy, 
but  some  doubted,  and  even  resisted,  what  to  them  appear- 
ed such  new  doctrines.  The  writer  noted  down  one  of 
those  sermons  at  the  time,  an  extract  from  which  is  given 
below.* 

Such  has  ever  been  the  spirit  and  style  of  the  preaching 
of  men,  who  have  been  eminently  blessed  in  turning  sin- 
ners to  God.  It  is  apostolic  ;  it  is  scriptural.  In  a  letter  t 
written  by  George  Wliitefield  to  a  friend,  dated  Savannah, 
June  25,  1740,  that  wonderful  preacher  says:  "How  can 
they  possibly  stand,  who  were  never  brought  to  see,  and 
heartily  confess,  that  after  they  had  done  all,  God  might, 
notwithstanding,  deny  them  mercy !  It  is  for  preaching  in 
this  manner,  that  I  like  Messrs.  Tennents.     They  wound 


•  "  When,"  said  the  preacher,  "  a  sinner  is  in  distress  for  his  sins,  and  goes  groaning 
BDOlH,  and  asks,  What  shall  I  do  ?  My  sins  are  so  great  (hey  can't  be  pardoned , 
What  do  you  tell  sinners  7  Why,  '  Don't  despair,  poor  mourning  souls,''  Now  what 
do  yon  mean  by  this  7  Do  you  mean  to  encourage  the  sinner  in  his  sins,  and  to  take 
his  part  against  God 1  What  is  this  but  pleading  his  cause  against  God  I  You  are 
attempting  to  ease  and  soothe  him,  while  he  is  in  rebellion  against  God  7  When  the 
sinner  is  In  this  distress,  there  are  two  things  that  press  heavily  upon  him  ;  a  sense  of 
his  obligation  to  repent,  and  a  fearful  apprehension  that  he  never  shall  repent.  Now 
if  you  tell  him  not  to  despair,  to  wait  God's  time,  and  the  like,  why,  you  take  off  this 
obligation  at  once.  You  remove  all  anxiety,  and  most  probably  cause  him  to  sink 
down  into  a  state  of  stupidity  and  indifference  on  the  subject.  You  take  away  this 
apprehension  also,  and  the  danger  is,  that  the  sinner  will  either  sink  down  into  a  state 
of  stupidity,  or  mistake  the  relief  he  feels  for  a  change  of  heart.  Now  instead  of 
quieting  him  in  his  sins  by  such  language,  you  should  endeavor  to  increase  his  distress 
as  much  as  possible.  You  should  press  him  down,  and  tell  him  he  must  submit  to 
God,  Bad  he  generally  will.  I  know  some  have  been  brought  out  truly  regenerated 
after  all  this  flattery,  but  it  was  not  in  consequence,  but  in  spite  of  it.  Flattery  is  too 
pleasant  to  the  sinner." 

"  Again,  say  you,'  look  to  the  promises.'  Now  there  is  no  promise  to  the  impeni. 
tent  sinner,  and  how  then  can  you  exhort  him  to  look  to  the  promises,  while  he  is  in 
bis  sins'?  I  distinguish  between  promises  and  invitations.  Men  are  invited  lo  repent 
and  believe,  but  there  is  no  promise  to  theBB  till  they  do.  Promises  are  founded  on 
Christian  graces." 

11  .Now,  my  Christian  friends,  be  careful  how  you  talk  to  sinners.  I  have  known 
cases,  where  persons  in  deep  distre'ss  have  become  opposeisof  religion,  by  being  quieted 
in  their  distress.    Beware  how  you  cross  the  strivings  of  God's  Spirit." 

t  English  edition  of  his  Works  in  six  volumes. 


108  MEMOIll    OF 


Walton's  Narrative  of  the  Revival. 


deep  before  they  heal.  They  know  that  there  is  no  prom- 
ise made  but  to  him  that  believeth,  and  therefore,  they  are 
careful  not  to  comfort  overmuch  those  that  are  convicted. 
I  fear  I  have  been  to  incautious  in  this  respect,  and  have 
often  given  comfort  too  soon.  The  Lord  pardon  me  for 
what  is  past,  and  teach  me  more  rightly  to  divide  the  Word 
of  truth  for  the  future." 

On  this  subject,  the  mind  of  Mr.  Walton  received  great 
light,  during  the  progress  of  this  revival,  the  first  he  had 
witnessed.  He  was  led  to  think  profoundly  on  the  general 
subject,  and  a  portion  of  the  results  of  these  thoughts, 
besides  an  account  of  the  revival  itself,  was  embodied  in  a 
narrative,*  which  was  published  at  the  time,  excited  much 
interest,  and  passed  through  several  editions.  Some  of 
these  editions  were  published  in  New  England,  and  in  New 
York  State,  quite  remote  from  the  place  of  the  first  publi- 
cation of  the  pamphlet.  But  a  circumstance  still  more 
cheering  to  the  Author,  and  worthy  of  grateful  remem- 
brance is  this — that  his  pamphlet  was  blessed  to  the  revival 
of  religion  in  other  places,  where  the  face  of  the  writer 
was  never  seen,  nor  his  voice  ever  heard. 

It  appears  from  the  journal  of  passing  events,  which  Mr. 
Walton  kept  at  this  time,  that  he  must  have  performed  a 
great  amount  of  labor,  and  that,  too,  of  the  most  exhaust- 
ing kind.  His  visits  and  personal  efforts  for  the  salvation 
of  sinners  were  multitudinous  and  indefatigable.  They 
have  not  all  been  recorded,  nor  is  it  necessary  to  the  truth 
of  our  sketch  ;  but  the  reader  will  be  gratified  with  the 
extracts  which  follow,  and  with  the  judicious  remarks  on 
the  case  of  the  young  man,  of  whom  he  speaks. 

"  Monday,  Nov,  3. — Absent  a  week  attending  Synod  and 
Presbytery.  Yesterday  week  a  young  man  of  high  stand- 
ing and  considerable  intelligence,  cried  out  in  Church. 
He  had  been  in  a  good  deal  of  worldly  trouble,  and  per- 
haps he  had  expected  some  distress  on  account  of  his  sins, 

*  See  Appendix. 


WILMAM     C.     WALTON.  1 00 

Singular  case  of  conviction. 

but  he  was  very   ignorant  of  t lie  nature  of  (rue  religion, 

and  of  the  law  of  God.  As  far  as  f  could  judge,  his  strong 
feelings  were  produced  by  a  belief  that  liis  exercises  of" 
mind  had  been  the  result  of  divine  influence,  and  although  he 

did  not  seem  to  think  lie  had  religion  pet,  he  had  so  strong 
a  hope  it  would  issue  in  his  obtaining  it,  that  it  threw 
liiin  into  ecstacy.  He  said  he  would  give  the  world  if  he 
could  die  then.  I  visited  and  conversed  with  him,  and  found 
that  he  had  nothing  like  faith  in  Christ,  as  a  Saviour.  His 
mind  was  in  the  dark  on  that  subject  ;  he  now  thinks  be  is 
willing  to  do  any  thing  to  ho  saved,  and  becomes  irritable 
when  told  be  is  not  willing.  'If  I  cannot  get  religion 
at  your  Chinch,  I'll  go  somewhere  else.'  He  now  thinks 
be  has  religion,  but  1  fear  Ik-  is  mistaken;  be  has  not  that 
humility  and  solemnity  which  would  result  from  true  con- 
viction and  repentance." 

"Nov.  (>. — Two  days  ago  T  closed  my  30th  year.  When 
I  consider  what  bis  been  the  state  of  my  health  for  a  num- 
ber of  years,  the  d  tngers  through  which  I  have  passed,  and 
above  all,  how  much  1  have  done  to  provoke  a  righteous 
God  to  cut  me  off,  it  seems  wonderful  that  I  am  still  in  the 
land  of  the  living.  Last  summer  every  appearance  seemed 
to  indicate  that  I  was  near  my  end;  now  my  health  is  bet- 
ter than  it  lias  been  for  six  years  !  I  regard  it  as  a  great 
mercy  that  I  have  been  brought  to  this  place.  The  hand  of 
the  Lord  surely  lias  done  it.  Last  year,  this  time,  I  had  no 
expectation  of  it.  What  important  changes  take  place  in  a 
short  time!  How  important  the  consequences  that  have 
resulted  and  yet  result  from  my  coming  to  Baltimore.  Be- 
tween fifty  and  sixty  persons  are  now  entertaining  a  hope 
that  they  have  pgissed  from  death  unto  life,  who  but  a  few7 
months  ago  were  '  in  the  gall  of  bitterness.'  Althouo-h  I 
have  not  been  the  immediate  instrument  in  the  conversion 
of  all  these  persons,  yet  it  seems  to  have  resulted  from  my 
coming  here.  And  the  Lord  has  done  all  those  things  in 
such  a  way,  as  to  preclude  all  boasting,  especially  from  me. 
I  am  conscious  of  so  much  coldness,  indifference,  and  so 
many  other  evils  of  my  heart  attending  this  work,  that  I 
know  it  cannot  be  ascribed  in  any  measure  to  my  desert. 
Often  has  my  heart  been  so  barren  of  every  good  feeling, 
that  I  have  much  reason  to  fear  I  have  never  experi- 
enced a  saving  change.  Still  I  have  felt  a  prevailing,  and 
often  a  very  strong  desire  to  see  the  good  work  of  God  go 
10 


110  MEMOIR   OF 


Admissions  to  the  Church. 


on,  independently  of  any  selfish  considerations.  My  great- 
est difficulty  lias  arisen  from  inv  not  J i ;i \  i 1 1 li"  such  a  sense  of 
the  great  evil  of  sin,  and  of  my  nun  sins,  as  to  feel  that 
God  mighl  justly  cast  me  into  liell  at  any  moment,  notwith- 
standing all  I  have  done  to  escape  his  wrath.  Mv  views 
are  not  its  clear  on  this  subject  as  I  wish  them  to  be; 
although  I  know  whatever  God  does  will  be  right,  and  I 
think  I  feel  willing  to  trust  myself  in  his  hands,  to  do  with 
me  as  it  may  seem  good  in  his  sight." 

"Monday,  Nov.  10. — Seven  visits:  yesterday  evening 
read  Pres.  Edwards  sermon,  and  afterwards  related  the  fact 
about  a  party  being  carried  down  the  cataract  of  Niagara. 
A  solemn  impression  seemed  to  be  made,  and  one  woman 
this  evening  said  it  was  the  means  of  awakening  her.  I  find 
some  are  becoming  very  angry  with  the  plain  statement  of 
Divine  truth.     But  the  congregation  is  increasing." 

"Nov.  12. — Four  visits;  a  meeting  for  young  men;  find 
great  opposition  to  the  doctrine  of  immediate  submission 
and  repentance.     They  think  they  must  pray  first." 

"Nov.  17. — Yesterday  evening  1  read  a  sermon  which  I 
had  extracted  partly  from  Dr.  Emmons.  I  felt  so  much 
difficulty — was  fettered,  in  delivering  it  in  that  way,  that  I 
came  home  much  mortified,  and  resolved  not  to  attempt  it 
again,  unless  it  be  in  extraordinary  circumstances.  In  the 
morning  I  had  much  liberty  and  clearness  in  preaching 
from  the  history  of  Simon  Magus." 

"  Nov.  22. — Yesterday  we  had  a  fast,  and  in  the  after- 
noon admitted  twenty-seven  to  the  fellowship  of  the  Church. 
It   was  a  time  of  refreshing  to  my  soul.     I   could  not  but 

bless  God   for   bringing  me  to  Baltimore.      .Miss   J, , 

(about  13  or  11  years  old,)  although  suriounded  by  older 
persons,  and  by  the  session,  yet  spoke  of  what  the  Lord  had 
done  for  her  sold  without  embarrassment,  and  with  so  much 
frankness  and  unaffected  feeling  as  delighted  me." 

"  Mrs.  T.  said  while  under  conviction,  she  would  often 
rise  from  her  knees,  and  grate  her  teeth  against  Christ  for 
not  giving  her  peace  of  mind,  when  she  was  seeking  so 
earnestly." 

'•  P.  has  lo~t  his  impressions  and  become  a  persecutor." 

"  Mrs.  I',  went  home  from  meeting  last  Tuesday  evening, 
and  felt  so  wicked  and  unworthy,  that  she  could  not  pray  for 
herself,  and  thought  she  would  be  shut  out  of  Heaven  ;  but 
she  thought  '  if  I  am  not  to  go  there  myself,  I'll  pray  for 


WILLIAM     C.     WALTON.  Ill 

Description  of  exercises. 

sinners,'  and  she  immediately  found  relief.     She  said  with 
much  feeling  '1  always  feel  in  debt.'  " 

"  Nov.  27. — Yesterday  and  to-day,  eleven  visits  ;  five 
hoping  since  Sabbath ;  one  of  these  has  been  a  sneering 
atheist;  has  come  to  our  meetings  to  ridicule.  Last  Mon- 
day evening  he  disputed  with  me  the  existence  of  God." 

Mr.  W.  continued  steadily  to  visit  his  people.  Nearly 
thirty  visits  were  paid  by  him  in  three  or  four  days,  all  of 
which  were  strictly  religious  visits.  In  every  form  of  duty 
he  was  conscientious  and  faithful.  "Lost  four  communi- 
cants, by  dealing  faithfully  with  their  souls.  I  feel  it  to  be 
a  relief  to  get  clear  of  them,  unless  they  would  give  some 
evidence  of  piety." 

"  Dec.  5. — Last  Sabbath  had  considerable  liberty  in 
preaching  from  these  two  questions,  '  Are  there  few  that 
be  saved?'  and  'Who  then  can  be  saved?'  I  have  reason 
to  believe  solemn  impressions  were  made,  and  some  were 
awakened.  Last  Tuesday  evening  went  to  the  Session 
room  under  a  most  "painful  sense  of  my  sinfulness  and 
incompetency,  and  fearful  that  the  revival  would  stop;  hav- 
ing scarcely  any  hope  that  I  should  be  instrumental  in  doing 
any  good  that  night,  and  behold  I  was  set  at  liberty,  and  it 
was  one  of  the  most  interesting  and  useful  meetings  we 
have  had  since  the  revival  commenced.  I  have  often  won- 
dered at  my  insensibility.  I  never  had  less  animal  feeling 
than  since  the  revival  commenced  ;  though  I  know  my 
exercises  have  been  more  rational,  sanctifying,  and  humb- 
ling ;  and  less  mixed  with  spiritual  pride  and  selfishness, 
than  ever  before.  I  have  had  more  of  the  fear  of  God,  and 
have  aimed  more  simply  to  please  Him,  and  to  declare  his 
truth  plainly.  I  never  was  so  much  raised  above  the  fear 
of  man.  I  spoke  last  Monday  evening  extempore  before 
four  or  i\\e  ministers  at  the  monthly  concert.  Nothing 
could  have  induced  me  to  do  such  a  thing  when  I  first  came 
to  this  place.  I  have  often  had  fears  that  I  never  experien- 
ced a  saving  conversion  ;  that  I  had  a  saving  knowledge  of, 
and  faith  in  Christ,  and  that  I  had  never  experienced  those 
deep  and  humbling  convictions,  which  true  Christians 
experience.     I  have,  however,  a  prevailing  and  comfortable 


112  MEMOIR    OF 


Continuation  of  experience. 


hope,  and  feel  an  increasing  deadness  to  the  world  ;  my 
mind  is  more  and  more  set  on  promoting  the  work  of  God; 
I  feel  more  sensibly  the  worth  of  opportunities  of  usefulness, 
and  regret  that  I  have  suffered  bo  many  to  puss  without  im- 
provement. I  now  find  it  comparatively  easy  and  natural  to 
try  to  do  good  wherever  I  may  be.  I  have  Ik  sn  enabled  yes- 
terday and  to-day  to  pray  more  intelligently  and  distinctly  in 
the  name  and  for  the  sake  of  Christ,  than  ever  before;  and 
have  felt  in  some  measure,  the  sweetness  and  the  value  of  the 
privilege  of  praying  in  his  name,  seeing  how  glorious  it  is  to 
God  to  pardon,  and  bless,  and  save  sinners  in  this  way;  and 
this  evening  I  see  more  clearly  than  ever  before,  how  just  it 
will  be  eternally  to  damn  every  sinner  who  refuses  to  be 
saved  in  the  Gospel.  The  rejection  of  Christ  appears  an 
enormous  sin." 

"  Sabbath,  Dee.  7. — Preached  this  morning,  with  much 
depression  at  first — but  had  tolerable  clearness  and  liberty 
towards  the  close.  This  evening  with  unusual  clearness, 
and  liberty,  and  self-possession,  and  superiority  to  the  fear 
of  man.  Had  some  sweet  thoughts  and  feelings  this  after- 
noon about  the  entire  devotedness  of  saints  in  glory,  and 
with  what  alacrity  and  joy  they  do  every  thing  in  their 
power  for  the  glory  of  God.  Have  felt  more  of  this  spirit 
lately  than  ever  before.  I  desire  to  feel  a  constant  willing- 
ness to  devote  myself  and  all  1  have  to  God;  to  have  no 
other  end  in  view.  Went  to  Methodist  meeting-house  after 
our  service  concluded,  where  were  a  number  in  distress. 
Heard  such  prayers  and  such  directions  given  them  as 
distressed  me,  and  excited  a  stronger  desire  to  promote  the 
cause  of  truth." 

"Dee.  12. — Mrs.  P.  being  in  bad  health,  was  brought 
into  darkness  and  distress;  in  this  state  she  continued  for 
several  days  ;  her  feelings  appear  to  have  been  very  painful. 
On  Tuesday,  while  she  was  praying  for  Christians,  she 
said  the  Saviour  seemed,  as  it  were,  to  open  his  arms  to 
receive  her !  Her  joy  was  great ;  she  says  she  sees  her 
darkness  was  her  own  fault." 

On  the  evening  of  this  day,  Mr.  W.  proposed  to  the  com- 
municants, and  the  young  converts,  to  spend  the  time  that 
should   intervene   between  that  day   and  the   approaching 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON,  113 

,\  new  w.i\  cii  keeping  Christmas. 

'Christinas,'    in   reversing,   so   far   as  their   example    and 
practice  might   go,   the   ordinary   customs    of  the   Beason, 

which  in  the  Southern  portion  of  the  land,  sanction  such 
excess  of  mirth,  and  not  unfrequently,  festivity  of  the  most 
tumultuous  character.  What  can  he  more  absurd  and  dis- 
gusting than  the  explosion  of  gunpowder,  to  hail  the  eve  of 
the  day,  when  the  Prince  of  peace  is  said  to  have  been 
born?  What  more  abhorrent  to  the  pure  mind  of  the  Son 
of  God,  than  the  gluttony  and  drunkenness,  that  distinguish 
that  season  of  the  year — the  holidays  ?  Ilo/j/days  indeed  ! 
The  season  is  one  rather  of  profane  diversion,  than  of  holy 
deration;  of  brilliant  show,  rather  than  of  humble  worship. 
"  It  is  a  matter  of  just  complaint,"  says  a  divine,  "  that 
such  irregular  and  extravagant  things  are  at  this  time  com- 
monly done  by  many,  who  call  themselves  Christians;  as 
if,  because  the  Son  of  God  was  at  this  time  made  man,  it 
were  fit  for  men  to  make  themselves  beasts."  It  was 
agreed  that  the  interval  should  be  spent  in  peculiar  absti- 
nence, and  that  one  day  should  be  devoted  to  fasting  and 
prayer.  "  It  was  the  most  reviving  meeting  we  have  had  to 
Christians,  and  I  entertain  strong  hopes  we  shall  see  much 
good  resulting  from  the  measure." 

"Dec.  13. — My  cares  and  labors  of  late  have  been  so 
numerous  and  pressing,  that  they  have  interfered  with  my 
self-examination  and  devout  meditation.  This  I  find  to  be 
indispensable  to  distinctness  of  views  and  the  right  exercise 
of  the  affections.      Without  it,  prayer  is  often  unmeaning." 

"Dec.  1G. — Visited  seven  families.     One  of  Mr.  's 

members,  who  had  been  persuaded  to  be  baptized  and  to 
take  the  sacrament,  to  get  peace  of  mind,  and  who  had  set- 
tled down  in  sin,  and  become  so  hard,  that  yesterday  week 
she  said  if  hell  was  opened  before  her,  it  would  not  move 
her  ;  afterwards  went  to  the  anxious  meeting,  and  was  awak- 
ened, and  brought  to  weep;  her  distress  has  been  increas- 
ing, and  this  morninw  she  s^ent  for  me." 

"Dec.  17. — Last  Sabbath,  was  more  sensible  of  my  incom- 
petence and  unworthiness  to  be  employed  in  the  work  of 

10* 


114  MEMOIR     OF 


Two  Interesting  casee  of  conviction.       Tii;iis.     Threatened  with  a  prosecution. 

the  ministry  than  ever  before.  After  the  morning  service, 
I  was  exceedingly  cast  down,  and  could  not  rest  until  I 
resolved  to  take  up  the  same  subject  again  in  the  evening. 
When  I  commenced  praying,  1  felt  cold,  shut  up,  unable 
to  pray,  as  it'  1  had  no  power;  before  I  concluded,  was  a 
good  deal  enlarged.  In  the  evening,  when  I  commenced 
preaching,  I  felt  unable  to  grasp  the  subject  or  connect 
ideas  together.  1  felt  as  if  1  could  nut  preach.  But  I  was 
soon  set  at  liberty,  and  had  a  comfortable  time.  I  never 
before  felt  so  willing  to  sacrifice  mv  reputation  as  a  preacher 
with  the  world.  I  have  been  enabled  to  rise  above  the  fear 
of  man  of  late,  for  which  I  feel  truly  thankful.  It  is  indeed 
a  great  mercy.-' 

Among  the  interesting  cases  recorded  in  the  journal  of 
our  departed   friend,  are  those  of  two  persons,  with  whom 

the  editor  was  personally    acquainted.     Mrs.  thought 

her  sins  so  very  few  and  inconsiderable,  that  it  would  be, 
at  any  convenient  time,  an  easy  matter  to  obtain  their  par- 
don, without  being  unnecessarily  alarmed  at  impending 
danger.  But  when  a  christian  brother  went  to  her  house, 
with  the  view  of  conversing  with  her,  as  she  was  descending 
the  stairs,  she  was  seized  with  a  trembling,  and  she  asked 
within  herself,  "Why  is  this  ?  If  I  am  so  much  afraid  of 
meeting  a  man,  how  can  I  appear  before  God?"  The 
thought  struck  her  with  such  force,  as  to  cause  her  to  burst 
into  tears. 

The  other  case  was  that  of  a  young  lady,  who  ascribed 
her  serious  and  permanent  convictions,  under  God,  to  the 
repeated  visits  made  her  by  brethren,  who  constantly  and 
affectionately  urged  on  her  the  importance  of  securing  the 
salvation  of  her  soul.  These  impressions  she  retained,  in 
spite  of  the  active  opposition  of  the  family,  who  ridiculed 
her  religion,  reviled  her  church,  and  spared  no  efforts  to 
ruin  her  soul.  But  the  Lord  raised  her  above  all,  and  filled 
her  with  peace,  and  joy  unspeakable  and  full  of  glory. 

At  such  a  time  as  this,  Mr.  Walton  was  subjected  to  some 
petty  vexations,  which,  to  a  sensitive  mind  like  his,  became 


WILLIAM     C.     WALTON.  115 

Contention  oi  churcb  members.  Remarkable  caw  <>f  an  >>i<i  man  who  was  convi  rted. 

sore  trials.  He  was  threatened  with  a  prosecution  for  slan- 
der by  a  certain  person,  because  he  went  to  him,  and  in  a  pri- 
vate manner  admonished  for  profane  swearing!  the  charge 
having  heen  brought  against  the  offender  by  a  member  of 
the  session.  "I  felt  a  little  agitated  and  cast  down  at  first, 
not  knowing  what  consequences  might  grow  out  of  it.  But 
my  confidence  in  God  is  a  very  sensible  relief  to  my  mind. 
I  am  resolved  to  put  my  trust  in  Him,  and  engage  a  few 
pious  friends  to  unite  with  me  in  prayer,  that  the  Lord  may 
overrule  it  to  his  glory  and  the  advancement  of  his  cause. 
I  feel  conscious  that  I  was  acting  according  to  my  convic- 
tion of  duty,  and  I  believe  the  Lord  will  not  let  me  suffer  for 
so  doing." 

Probably  his  trials  affected  his  spirits,  and  injured  the 
flow  of  devotional  feeling.  He  complains  of  insensibility 
to  the  claims  of  God  on  his  soul,  and  of  not  feeling  "  much 
concern  about  any  thing.  But  the  exercises  of  Christmas 
day  appeared  to  relieve  me,  and  I  felt  much  encouraged  by 
the  prospect  of  the  revival  going  on  more  powerfully  and 
extensively  than  it  had  done.  My  spirits  were  cheerful,  and 
I  was  a  good  deal  drawn  out  in  prayer." 

At  the  coming  of  Christ,  whenever  in  any  circumstances 
he  makes  the  influence  of  His  Spirit  to  be  felt,  he  may  be 
said  to  '  sit  as  a  refiner  and  purifier  of  silver.'  "  In  this 
revival,  about  eight  or  ten  old  professors  have  been  awak- 
ened, and  nearly  all,  I  hope,  have  experienced  a  saving 
change." 

A  very  striking  case  occurred  of  an  aged  man,  whose 
intellect  was  obtuse  more  by  nature  than  from  age;  one  of 
those  men,  in  whom  little  feeling  can  be  awakened  on  other 
subjects;  but  whose  hostility,  at  the  mention  of  the  word 
religion,  or  any  of  its  terms,,  is  immediately  quickened  into 
a  flame.  For  some  time,  he  absolutely  forbid  his  family 
from  going  to  church.  And  when,  obeying  God  rather  than 
man,  they  did  repair  to  His  house  to  worship  Him,  he  would 
seek  the  grog-shop,  there  to  squander  his  money,  and  in- 


110  m  E  Mom    op 


The  means  of  liis  conversion. 


toxicate  his  brain.  The  Spirit  had  entered  his  family.  Some 
of  his  daughters  were  converted,  and  he  was  compelled  to 
read  the  Bible:  not  so  much  to  find  consolation  for  his  own 
soul,  as  to  refute  the  arguments  with  which  his  pious  wife 
plied  his  conscience.  On  a  Sabbath  day,  when  his  wife 
expected  to  be  assailed  with  his  accustomed  fierceness  of 
manner,  the  lion  manifested  signs  of  being  somewhat  soft- 
ened. He  was  strangely  silent  on  the  subject  of  their  going 
to  church.  Instead  of  going  himself  to  the  grog-shop,  he 
remained  at  home  and  read  the  Bible.  The  shaft  of  divine 
truth  quivered  in  his  heart !  That  day  he  was  fully  awak- 
ened to  a  sense  of  his  guilt  and  danger.  The  terrors  of 
conviction  rushed  in  upon  his  soul,  so  as  to  deprive  him  of 
all  appetite  for  food  and  inclination  to  sleep.  His  agony 
was  so  intense,  as  to  cause  the  perspiration  to  stand  in  drops 
on  his  agitated  frame.  It  seemed  a  case  of  speedy  life  or 
death.  But  grace  prevailed,  and  he  bowed  in  humble  sub- 
mission to  the  Being,  whom  a  short  time  before  he  had  hated 
with  the  malice  of  a  devil,  and  reviled  with  the  fury  of  a 
fiend.  He  was  now  '  clothed,  and  in  his  right  mind.'  Oh 
the  riches  of  the  superabounding  mercy  of  God!  "  Is  not 
this  a  brand  plucked  out  of  the  fire?  "  said  John  Wesley  of 
himself,  after  he  had  escaped  from  his  father's  house,  while 
yet  wrapped  in  the  flames.  How  much  more  wonderful  the 
escape  from  hell's  devouring  fire! 

In  speaking  of  himself,  the  old  man  said  he  had  served 
Satan  long,  but  added  he,  "I  have  now  found  him  out." 
While  in  a  state  of  distressing  conviction,  his  wife  admin- 
istered medicine  to  the  body,  supposing  him  to  be  laboring 
under  an  attack  of  disease.  But  he  told  her  that  medicines 
would  not  relieve  him  of  the  burden  which  pressed  on  his 
heart.  The  balmofGilead  only  was  adequate  to  so  des- 
perate a  case.  The  word  of  God  alone  could  speak  peace 
to  his  troubled  conscience,  and  this  was  that  word  :  '  To 
open  their  eyes,  and  to  turn  them  from  darkness  to  light, 
and  from  the  power  of  Satan  unto  God  ;  that  they  may   re- 


WILLIAM    C.WALTON.  117 

A  backslider  In  distress. 

reive  forgiveness  of  sins,  and  inheritance  among  them  who 
are  sanctified,  hy  faith  that  is  in  me.'  Thus  were  his  eyes 
opened;  he  saw  the  radiant  light  of  the  cross ;  he  believed, 
and  was  forgiven ! 

"  Dec.  29. — This  evening,  at  anxious  meeting,  conversed 

with  a  member  of  Mr.  N 's  church,  who  said  she  had 

formerly  enjoyed  the  comforts  of  religion,  but  had  yielded  to 
pride,  conformed  to  the  world,  and  was  in  great  distress — 
sometimes  feared  she  had  committed  the  sin  against  the 
Holy  Ghost." 

"  E.  H.  after  being  driven  from  many  resting  places, 
almost  desperate,  wrote  down  a  resolution  to  renounce  sin 
and  devote  herself  to  God.  Her  heart  did  not  feel  it,  and 
yet  she  was  depending  upon  it,  when  I  visited  her.  I  told 
her  that  would  not  do.  She  felt  it  to  be  hard  to  be  drawn 
from  that,  for  it  relieved  her  mind  in  some  measure." 


CHAPTER     VII 


Celebration  of  the  New  Year. 


Those  who  have  witnessed  what  may  be  called  the  sanc- 
tification  of  the  opening  year,  as  practiced  in  some  of  the 
evangelical  churches  in  our  land,  must  have  been  struck 
with  the  moral  sublimity  of  the  scene.  To  hear  the  voice 
of  prayer  and  the  music  of  praise,  as  they  greet  the  ear  of 
midnight,  and  that  midnight  the  solemn  line  of  time,  which 
separates  the  old  from  the  new,  the  dying  from  the  rising 
year,  is  both  affecting  and  delightful.  Thus  did  Walton  and 
his  christian  friends  commence  the  year  1824. 

"Jan.  1,  1824. — Last  evening  we  had  service  in  our 
church,  commencing  at  nine  o'clock.  I  administered  the 
Lord's  supper.  At  twelve  o'clock  we  all  kneeled  down  and 
spent  some  time  in  silent  prayer  and  praise.  A  considera- 
ble number  then  retired  to  the  session  room  and  spent  the 
remainder  of  the  night  in  sin<ring,  conference,  &,c.  I 
remained  until  four  o'clock.  Was  much  pleased  with  the 
experience  of  some  of  our  young  converts.  This  is  doubt- 
less a  work  of  God;  flesh  and  blood  could  not  teach  them 
euch  things." 

Whose  reflections,  at  the  opening  of  the  year,  when  a 
faithful  and  inquisitive  eye  takes  a  retrospective  glance, 
would  not  compare  with  the  following?  After  speaking  of 
retiring  for  prayer,  he  says,  "  I  see  that  my  heart  has  been 


MEMOIR     OF     WALTON.  119 

Reflections  and  resolutions. 


evil,  and  only  evil,  continually.  My  pride,  ingratitude, 
neglect,  and  forgetful ness  of  God;  unfaithfulness,  particu- 
larly in  not  improving  opportunities  of  usefulness  ;  my  self- 
importance,  self-seeking,  devoting  my  thoughts  and  time 
so  much  to  the  world,  especially  while  living  at  Bethany, — 
all  these  things,  together  with  the  want  of  those  views  and 
feelings  which  I  ought  to  have  had  in  performing  my  minis- 
terial duties,  make  out  a  black  catalogue  indeed,  and  exhibit 
my  condition  and  character  in  a  more  humiliating  and 
alarming  point  of  view  than  I  have  before  seen  it." 

"  I  feel  resolved,  with  the  help  of  God,  to  press  on, 
to  follow  on  to  know  Him,  and  to  strive  to  realize  all 
that  is  to  be  felt  in  religion.  I  ardently  desire  this 
blessing,  not  only  for  the  comfort  of  it,  but  to  fit  me  for 
more  usefulness  in  the  ministry.  I  feel  my  incompetence 
to  guide  immortal  souls  to  Heaven,  although  I  thank  God 
for  giving  me,  lately,  more  correct  views  as  to  directions 
that  ought  to  be  given  to  sinners.  1  think  I  see  unques- 
tionable evidence  that  the  Lord  has  blessed  my  labors,  but 
that  he  might  do  and  send  me  to  hell  after  all.  I  desire 
now  to  submit  to  Him,  and  to  cast  my  naked  soul  upon  His 
sovereign  mercy,  through  Jesus  Christ.  I  desire  never 
more  to  feel  an  emotion  of  pride,  but  ever  more  to  feel 
the  deepest  humility  before  God.  1  know  of  no  sin  that 
I  wish  to  retain.  I  think  my  chief  desire  is  to  love  and 
serve  Christ,  and  to  promote  His  cause  by  every  means 
in  my  power ;  to  feel  my  will  swallowed  up  in  His ;  to  fol- 
low Him  through  evil  and  s;ood  report,  and  to  glory  in  His 
Cross." 

"  Mrs says  she  has  been  repenting  all  her  life,  and 

yet  does  not  feel  that  it  would  be  just  to  send  her  to  hell. 
She  can't  love  God  the  Father,  but  she  can  love  the  Sav- 
iour !  Her  sister,  after  hearing  that  a  christian  must  eat 
and  drink,  and  do  every  thing  for  the  glory  of  God,  exclaimed 
'Who  can  be  a  christian?'  An  unrenewed  heart  sees 
impossibilities  in  the  way,  but  love  God,  and  all  is  easy." 

"Jan.  10. — My  mind  has  been  a  good  deal  tried,  and  at 
times,  cast  down,  lately,  by  the  pecuniary  difficulties  of  the 
church.  I  cannot  see,  at  present,  howl  am  to  be  supported 
here,  and  I  dread  the  consequences  of  giving  up  the  con- 


120  MEMOIR     OP 


DiiTicullics  in  the  congregation.  Mis  <ir,iri<  to  restore  peace  and  harmony. 

gregation,  in  it-  presets  weak  state.  F  for!,  however,  sen- 
siitlv  relieved,  l>y  trusting  thai  the  Lord  will  guide  me,  and 

provide  for  me,  and  take  care  of  the  concerns  of  his  own 
church.  My  faith,  however,  is  too  wavering,  and  does  not 
take  so  firm  a  hold  of  the  promises  as  it  ou. 

Vet  the  Lord  was  better  than  his  fears,  and  even  than 
his  faith,  for  he  raised  np  means  and  agents,  to  make  such 
provision  boih  for  his  personal  wants  and  the  wants  of  the 
church,  as  subdued  those  fears  and  strengthened  that  faith. 
"Thus  has  the  Lord  provided  for  me  in  this,  the  time  of 
my  necessity.  I  tried  to  look  to  the  Lord  through  the  whole 
process  of  this  business,  and  I  must  believe  He  has  made 
this  provision  for  me  at  the  very  time  when  I  most  needed 
it.  I  was  expressing  my  difficulties  and  those  of  the  church 
to  Mr.  Nevins,  and  also  a  probability  that  I  should  be 
obliged  to  leave  here  for  want  of  support.  He  said  '  No, 
you  must  not  think  of  it.  Let  your  people  do  their  utmost, 
and  then  I  will  head  a  subscription,  and  get  twenty  men 
who  will  subscribe  at  least  ten  dollars  apiece.'  So  the  pros- 
pect of  my  continuance  here,  is  brighter  than  it  was.  I 
hope  we  shall  be  able  to  struggle  through  our  difficulties. 
I  pray  that  they  may  be  sanctified  to  us  all,  and  that  we 
may  learn  to  depend  entirely  on  the  Lord  !  "  This  extract 
is  introduced  for  the  purpose  of  inviting  attention  to  this 
example  of  an  infant  church,  founded  in  faith,  (it  was 
founded  by  my  excellent  friend  and  brother,  Nicholas  Pat- 
terson.) and  struggling  through  difficulties  to  the  perman- 
ent standing  and  prosperity  which  it  now  enjoys.  It  would 
be  neither  necessary  nor  useful  to  enter  into  the  particulars 
of  these  difficulties,  some  of  which  consisted  in  divisions 
among  the  people  on  ecclesiastical  affairs,  which  have  long 
since  been  healed,  Cut  they  then  affected  the  prospects 
and  depressed  the  spirits  of  Walton.  It  matters  little  on 
what  string  Satan  lays  his  hand,  so  that  he  produces  dis- 
cord. 

Walton,  under  a  heavy  pressure  of  anxiety,   preached 


WILLIAM    C.WALTON.  121 

Power  of  conscience. 

from  Phil.  i.  27  :  '  That  ye  stand  fast  in  one  spirit,  with  one 
mind  striving  together  for  the  faith  of  the  gospel.'  It  was 
a  kind  effort  on  the  part  of  the  pious  and  conscientious  Pas- 
tor, conceived  in  love  and  executed  with  fidelity,  to  produce 
and  perpetuate  the  spirit  of  holy  peace  throughout  his 
charge.  His  own  soul  was  at  I  his  time  filled  with  the  love 
of  God,  and  he  probahly  never  prayed  more  fervently  for  the 
reviving  influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  With  respect  to  the 
pecuniary  wants  of  the  society,  Mr.  W.  volunteered  to  under- 
take a  soliciting  tour,  and  to  relinquish  two  hundred  dol- 
lars of  liis  salary,  for  the  purpose  of  aiding  in  dissolving  the 
Society's  debt.  The  latter  proposal  was  at  once  refused, 
and  different  means  were  adopted  to  effect  the  object. 

A  remarkable  instance  of  the  power  of  conscience  in  ap- 
plying the  truth,  seems  to  have  occurred  at  the  time  of  the 
delivery  of  the  sermon  mentioned  above.  It  is  thus  recorded  ; 

"  Feb.  8. — Last  Monday  morning,  Mr. came  to  me 

in  a  state  of  irritation  and  said,  '  I  have  come  to  know  why 
you  made  that  violent  attack  on  me  yesterday,  when  I  had 
no  opportunity  to  defend  myself! '  I  was  astonished.  The 
design  of  the  sermon  was  to  conciliate  and  harmonize  the 
feelings  of  all  the  members  of  the  church,  after  their  troub- 
les about  selling  the  pews ;  and  nothing  but  ignorance  or 
infatuation  could  have  admitted  the  impression  he  received. 
He  said  I  could  mean  no  person  but  him,  and  the  eyes  of 
all  the  congregation  were  upon  him.  I  told  him  I  never  had 
thought  of  him  from  the  time  I  chose  the  text  until  he  came 
to  see  me.  It  made  a  painful  impression  for  a  little  while, 
but  it  soon  wore  off.  I  hope  and  believe  the  Lord  will 
cause  this  storm  to  blow  over  without  doing  any  permanent 
injury.  I  have  heard  very  little  on  the  subject  for  the  last 
week." 

"  This  morning  I  administered  the  communion.  Admit- 
ted eighteen.  Resolved  at  the  beginning  to  make  the  ser- 
vice short,  but  it  seemed  impossible.  This  evening,  while 
reflecting  in  my  study  on  the  love  of  Christ,  had  a  view  of  it 
that  made  a  deeper  impression  than  any  I  ever  had.  I  feel 
that  He  has  a  right  to  me  and  all  I  can  ever  do  for  His  glo- 
11 


122  MEMOIR    OP 


Visit  10  Winchester.  Successful  labors  tliere.  The  case  of  the  hostler. 

iv,  and  I  desire  ever  to  feel  myself  and  all  I  have,  devoted 
to  his  service." 

During  the  latter  part  of  this  month,  Mr.  Walton  being 
called  to  Winchester  on  business,  was  invited  by  Dr.  Hill, 
the  Pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  to  tarry  awhile  and 
hold  religious  exercises  with  the  people.  Religious  exercise 
was  held  every  evening,  and  the  day  was  in  part  devoted  to  vis- 
iting. On  Sabbath  evening,  after  service,  notice  was  given 
to  those  who  felt  anxious  about  their  souls,  to  assemble  at  a 
certain  house,  when  between  twenty  and  thirty  accepted 
the  invitation.  Appearances  were  very  promising,  and 
when  duty  called  him  away,  he  left  with  great  reluctance  ;  he 
said  he  "  never  felt  so  much  concerned  for  any  people  in 
his  life."  On  that  occasion,  our  friend  is  said  to  have 
preached  with  great  clearness  and  power.  His  heart  glowed 
with  heavenly  zeal ;  his  purpose  of  labor  '  in  season,  out  of 
season,'  for  the  glory  of  God,  was  resolute  and  steadfast.  He 
has  been  heard  to  say  that  he  enjoyed  religion  more  during 
that  excursion,  than  ever  before  in  the  same  length  of  time. 
He  prayed  daily  that  God  would  dispose  him  to  embrace 
opportunities  for  doing  good,  and  he  did  not  suffer  one  to 
pass  without  attempting  to  improve  it. 

While  taking  refreshment  at  a  public  house,  the  hostler 
came  in.  He  began  to  converse  with  him  on  the  concerns 
of  his  soul,  enforcing  his  arguments  and  arts  of  persuasion 
with  special  point  and  pungency.  The  man  turned  and 
went  out,  stricken  by  the  Spirit  of  God !  He  was  soon 
overheard  on  his  knees,  in  the  stable,  praying  for  mercy, 
and  before  Walton  left  him,  he  had  the  satisfaction  of  lead- 
ing him  to  the  cross  of  the  Redeemer,  and  hearing  his  ascrip- 
tions of  grateful  praise  for  redeeming  love  !  Warning  him 
against  self-deception,  he  resumed  his  journey,  and  on  his 
return  found  him  still  rejoicing  in  regenerating  grace.  Oh 
how  much  more  might  ministers  do  for  their  Master,  if  they 
would  seize  every  opening  avenue  of  usefulness,  and  occupy 
it  in  the  name  of  God  ! 


WILLIAM     C.     WALTON.  123 

Letter  (torn  Dr.  Baeeber. 

"  March  Hi. — Since  I  returned  home,  I  have  heen  revis- 
ing and  improving  the  Narrative  of  our  Revival,  with 
remarks  on  it,  in  order  to  send  it  to  the  Richmond  .Maga- 
zine. While  preparing  it,  the  thoughl  occurred  that  I  had 
heller  publish  it  in  the  form  of  a  pamphlet,  and  sell  it  for  the 
benefit  of  our  church.  It  is  now  in  the  press — four  thou- 
sand copies.  I  have  earnestly  and  repeatedly  prayed  for  a 
great  blessing  to  attend  it.  I  hope  it  will  be  the  means  of 
setting  man]  right  on  points  intimately  connected  with  the 
revival  of  true  religion." 

About  amonth  after  this  date,  in  the  course  of  correspon- 
dence on  a  subject  of  which  his  mind  was  full,  he  received 
the  following  interesting  letter  from  Dr.  Beecher,  which, 
as  containing  some  important  practical  thoughts,  may  be 
properly  here  introduced. 

"  Litchfield,  April  14,  1824. 

"Dear  Brotlu  r, — Yours  of  March  Gth,  was  duly  received, 

and  I  regret  that  neither  myself  nor   Mr.  N ,  nor  any 

other  person  within  my  knowledge,  could  be  sent  to  your 
aid. 

I  was  absent  three  months  of  the  last  year  at  Boston, 
which,  if  I  am  to  remain  in  the  capacity  of  a  stated  pas- 
tor, is  an  absence  that  cannot  be  often  repeated.  If  I 
were  now  in  a  single  state,  and  without  a*  family,  I  think  I 
would  be  dismissed,  and  give  my  remaining  days  to  the 
church  as  an  evangelist.  But  Providence,  as  things  are, 
indicates  that  my  duty  is  to  stay  at  home  chieflv,  and  do 
what  good  I  can  with  my  pen,  while  taking  care  of  my  flock. 
I  am  preparing  a  volume  of  sermons,  long  since  promised, 
and  long  delayed  by  avocations  abroad,  but  which  must 
now  be  made  ready. 

-Mr.  N 's  health   does  not  yet  allow  him  to  enter  the 

field;  and  besides  all  this,  revivals  are  multiplying  around 
me,  and  urgent  demands  for  aid,  more  than  I  can  comply 
with,  are  made  almost  continually.  Indeed,  my  dear  brother, 
it  would  seem  to  be  a  day  of  revivals,  and  instead  of  send- 
ing to  a  distance,  every  evangelical  minister  is  bound  to  be 
semper  paratus,  and  happily  every  man  of  God  is  thoroughly 
furnished  by  his  bible.  He  has  only  to  preach  to  men  their 
depravity,  and  explain  and  enforce  duty,  and  apply  the  sane- 


124  MEMOIR    OF 


Tin:  claims  of  God  on  ilic  sinner. 


tionsof  the  law  and  the  gospel.  I  have  admired  that  agri- 
culture should  be  ><>  plain,  that  feeble-minded  men  may  raise 
a  crop,  and  that  the  way  to  preach  the  gospel  should  also 
be  as  plain  as  the  way  to  plough  and  sow.  It  all  consists  in 
explaining  tin*  claims  of  law  and  gospel  on  the  heart;  in 
demanding  of  men  spiritual  obedience  immediately,  as  God 
does,  and  not  easing  off  the  claims  for  any  excuse  of  the  sin- 
ner whatever  ;  but  pressing  it  more  and  more,  until  the 
sword  of  the  Spirit  go  through  him  and  slay  him.  All  pre- 
scribing of  '  means  of  grace,'  instead  of  urging  repentance 
and  faith,  is  anti-apostolical.  All  yielding  to  the  sinner's 
pretence  of  inability,  is  giving  up  the  high  claims  of  God 
and  fortifying  rebellion  with  an  excuse  for  procrastination. 
Indeed,  it  is  affording  him  a  complete  justification  for  his 
rebellion  in  all  past  and  all  future  periods;  for  real  physi- 
cal inability  is  a  valid  excuse  now,  and  always  has  been, 
and  always  will  be;  but  simple  unwillingness,  however  cer- 
tain its  continuance,  is  no  excuse.  The  certainty  that  a 
drunkard  will  not  reform,  is  no  evidence  of  involuntary 
necessity — no  proof  of  inability — no  mitigation,  but  an 
aggravation  of  his  crime.  If  a  man  has  become  such  a  liar 
or  a  thief  that  he  will  not  reform,  and  it  is  certain  he  will 
not,  never  plead  his  inability,  or  think  of  conceding  to  thieves 
and  liars  that  they  cannot  become  honest,  and  must,  there- 
fore, instead  of  becoming  honesl  instantly,  only  use  the 
means  of  becoming  so,  and  pray  as  well  as  they  can  to  God 
to  make  them  effectual,  and  wail  God's  time.  Human  laws, 
in  this  case,  will  not  wait  for  thieves  to  use  the  means  of 
reformation,  and  wind  up  their  trade  by  stealing  less  and 
less,  until  God  enables  them  to  be  honest.  If  God  requires 
of  men. spiritual  obedience,  we  have  nothing  to  do  but  toes- 
plain  and  press  his  claims.  If  any  should  inquire  whether 
I  would  have  sinners  use  the  means,  I  answer  that  I  would 
inculcate  reading  and  hearing,  as  I  would  inculcate  repm- 
tance  and  faith  as  enjoined  duties,  to  be  neglected  at  our 
peril  ;  and  I  would  explain  prayer  and  inculcate  prayer,  as 
1  would  explain  repentance  and  faith.  But  to  the  sinner's 
reply,  '  I  cannot  pray  aright,'  I  would  no  sooner  say,  '  I 
know  you  cannot ;  but  you  must  pray  as  well  as  you  can,' 
than  I  would  say,  '  I  know  you  cannot  repent  and  believe 
aright;  but  you  must  repent  and  believe  as  well  as  you 
can.'  " 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  125 

Plan  of  a  manual  labor  Hcminary. 


In  the,  enlarged  views  which  Mr.  Walton  took  of  the 
wants  and  prospects  of  the  world,  it  had  for  sometime,  heen 
a  matter  of  thought  and  desire  with  him,  to  do  something 
more  effectually  for  the  advancement  of  Christ's  kingdom  on 
earth,  and  if  possible,  to  set  causes  in  motion,  which  should 
make  their  activity  felt,  when  the  mind  that  conceived  them 
was  mingling  with  the  spirits  of  the  just  made  perfect  in 
heaven.  Some  plan,  he  was  convinced,  could  he  devised 
for  combining  mental  and  manual  labor  in  such  a  way,  as 
to  impart  the  greatest  vigor  to  the  active  and  intellectual 
powers,  while  the  heart  should  be  cultivated  with  an  assidu- 
ity proportioned  to  its  important  position  in  the  system. 
"The  plan  of  my  school,"  says  he,  "  for  training  young 
men  for  the  ministry,  appears  to  me  more  and  more  import- 
ant amd  practicable.  I  have  now  a  strong  hope  it  will  be 
realized.  In  its  bearing  and  results,  it  appears  to  me  grand 
and  glorious.  I  feel  almost  enthusiastic  while  reflecting 
upon  it.  I  feel  conscious  that  my  desire  to  promote  the 
cause  of  truth  and  righteousness  is  gaining  strength,  and 
giving  a  habitual  direction  to  my  thoughts  and  feelings.  I 
take  more  pleasure  in  preaching  now  than  ever  before.  My 
ideas  have  been  more  transparent  to  myself,  and  my  mind 
takes  hold  of  a  subject  with  more  strength  and  inter- 
est than  ever  before.  The  new  views  I  have  received  since 
the  commencement  of  the  revival,  have  given  to  my  mind 
more  acumen  and  energy  than  any  thing  else  ever  did.  And 
as  far  as  I  can  judge,  I  have  made  more  progress  in  real, 
solid  mental  improvement  since  last  October,  than  I  had 
done  before  for  six  or  eight  years  !  I  am  now  in  my  thirty- 
first  year,  and  I  feel  that  I  ought  to  have  a  character,  and 
to  act  independently  in  the  cause  of  Christ.  I  feel  less  and 
less  regard  for  the  opinions  of  the  world,  even  of  the  chris- 
tian world,  so  called.  I  see  it  overspread  with  error  and 
sin,  and  my  spirit  is  stirred  within  me  to  do  every  thing  in 

11* 


126 


MEMOIR     OF 


Threatened  with  a  Bugging.  Faithful  indiscipline. 

my  power  to  enlighten  and  to  save  it.  We  need  a  reforma- 
tion now,  almost  as  much  as  in  the  days  of  Luther." 

Our  friend  asked  counsel  in  various  quarters  concerning 
his  school,  and  while  some  dissuaded,  many  advised  him  to 
go  on  with  it.  A  distinguished  Doctor  said,  "  It  may  grow 
into  more  importance  than  you  now  anticipate."  William 
Wirt  remarked,  "The  plan  is  admirable,  and  the  object 
contemplated  is  one  of  unrivalled  excellence."  Little  was 
said  to  discourage,  and  much  to  encourage  him.  In  June 
of  this  year,  he  attended  the  meeting  of  the  General  Assem- 
bly, at  Philadelphia,  that  he  might  confer  with  the  fathers 
and  brethren  of  that  body.  "Most  of  the  sentiments  ex- 
pressed, tended  to  strengthen  my  resolution  to  go  on,  while 
nothing  was  said  of  an  opposite  tendency." 

There  was  no  want  either  of  decided  approbation  or  of 
sanguine  encouragement.  But  the  execution  of  the  plan 
eventually  failed.  Of  the  causes  the  writer  has  not  sufficient 
knowledge  to  give  asatisfactory  explanation.  "  1  cannot  con- 
ceive of  any  other  object  that  would  induce  me  to  leave  my 
present  situation,  while  my  health  would  enable  rue  to  occu- 
py it.  But. my  health  is  so  extremely  feeble  and  precarious, 
and  the  prospect  of  its  improving,  if  I  remain  here,  so  very 
discouraging,  that  this  alone  might  justify  my  removal." 

"July  17. — On  Monday,  I  received  an  anonymous  letter 
of  abuse,  surpassing  every  thing  I  ever  saw.  It  threatened 
me  with  a  pair  of  artificial  green  spectacles  or  black  eyes, 
and  one  of  the  elders  with  a  flogging.  Instead  of  intimi- 
dating me,  it  nerved  me  with  fresh  resolution;  it  was  the 
most  unequivocal  testimony  to  my  fidelity  that  I  had  received 
since  I  have  been  here." 

"My  difficulties  and  trials  lately  have  been  peculiarly 
great.  But  my  mind  is  generally  supported  and  often  at 
rest,  stayed  upon  God.  The  prospect  of  the  good  to  result 
from  my  contemplated  school  always  animates  me." 

Some  of  these  trials  were  the  result  of  the  uncompromis- 
ing, firm,  and  fearless  manner  in  which,  as  a  minister  of 


WILLIAM     C.     WALTON.  127 

Leaves  Baltimore. 

Christ  and  a  bishop  of  souls,  he  performed  his  ecclesiasti- 
cal duties,  especially  those  connected  with  the  painful  and 
thankless  work  of  discipline.  In  this  he  most  conscien- 
tiously sought,  not  to  please,  but  to  benefit  men,  while  he 
studied  to  show  himself  approved  unto  God.* 

"  Aug.  8. — I  shall  rejoice  that  He  ever  brought  me  to  thia 
place.  It  lias  been  the  means  of  giving  me  views  and  feel- 
ings which  I  trust  will  qualify  me  for  doing,  with  the  divine 
blessing,  some  good  during  my  future  life,  if  I  should  be 
spared.  And  when  I  am  praying  to  be  made  useful,  I  do 
not,  from  an  affected  humility,  satisfy  myself  with  moderate 
desires  of  usefulness,  but  of  late,  my  desires  have  been  un- 
bounded." 

"  Saturday  eve.  Sept.  19. — Last  Sabbath  I  administered 
the  Lord's  Supper,  and  never  saw  so  deep  and  so  general 
an  impression  in  that  house.  I  have  heard  several  say 
they  never  experienced  such  a  day.  On  Wednesday  evening 
we  had  a  conference  meeting,  and  it  was  the  most  profita- 
ble one  we  have  ever  had  as  far  as  I  can  judge.  H.  D.  hopes 
she  obtained  religion  that  night." 

This  is  the  last  record  made  by  him  while  at  Baltimore. 
He  quietly  retired  from  his  labors  in  that  place,  and  with 
his  family  repaired  to  Virginia.  It  was  at  this  time  the 
writer  first  saw  him.  He  remembers  distinctly  the  serious 
impression  made  upon  his  mind  by  the  pale  countenance, 
the  sedate  air  and  the  spiritual  conversation  of  his  revered 
brother,  who  seemed  to  live  and  act  as  if,  in  the  language 
of  the  holy  Lcighton,  he  "  counted  the  whole  world  in  com- 
parison of  the  cause  of  Christ  one  grand  impertinence." 

After  reaching  Bethany,  his  mind  still  rex  erring  to  the 
solemn  scenes  which  he  had  left,  in  the  recollection  of  them 


*  The  pious  Dr.  Herman  Boerhaave  did  not  condescend  to  refute  calumny 
and  detraction.  He  was  accustomed  to  say,  "  They  are  sparks,  which,  if  you 
do  not  blow  them,  will  go  out  of  themselves.  The  surest  re  nedy  against  scan- 
dal is,  to  live  it  down,  by  persevering  in  well  doing,  and  by  Graying  to  God 
that  He  would  cure  the  distempered  minds  of  those  who  traduce  and  injure 

UB." 


128  MEMOIR    OP 


A  in  vis  in  i  'iKirlesiDwn,  Virginia. 


he  writes  under  date  Oct.  17,  "After  the  conference  meet- 
ing above  recorded,  we  had  another  which  appeared  to  be 
attended  with  a  still  greater  blessing.  I  never  saw  so  much 
evidence  of  a  general  and  almost  universal  engagedness  in 
prayer'  as  there  was  towards  the  conclusion  of  the  meeting, 
and  then  it  was  that  S.  M.,  who  had  been  one  of  the  first 
awakened  in  the  revival,  and  had  often  been  awakened  and 
had  as  often  lost  her  impressions,  constantly  fighting  against 
her  convictions,  and  striving  against  the  Holy  Spirit ;  then 
it  was  that  she  hopes  she  passed  from  death  unto  life.  Glory 
to  God  for  all  that  I  have  seen,  and  heard,  and  felt  of  His 
salvation  since  I  went  to  Baltimore  ;  and  glory  to  His  name 
for  all  the  good  He  has  accomplished  by  my  unworthy  instru- 
mentality. Many  and  great  were  my  trials  there,  but  I  trust 
I  shall  forever  rejoice  that  I  was  led  to  that  place." 

"  I  have  a  much  deeper  concern  to  please  and  glorify 
God,  and  to  promote  His  cause — I  have  a  deeper  sense  of 
the  value  of  souls,  ami  more  concern  for  their  salvation — a 
deeper  conviction  and  clearer  discovery  of  many  truths  of 
fundamental  importance,  which  has  given  a  new  character 
to  iny  preaching — a  greater  independence  of  human  opin- 
ion, and  less  regard  to  my  reputation  as  a  man  of  learning 
and  abilities — the  things  of  the  world  occupy  less  of  my 
attention  and  regard,  my  thoughts  and  feelings  being  more 
engrossed  by  the  concerns  of  the  kingdom  of  Christ — I  am 
more  willing  to  make  sacrifices  and  to  spend  and  be  spent 
for  the  glory  of  God." 

"  I  arrived  at  Charlestownon  Saturday  evening,  9th  int.; 
next  day  preached  twice  and  assisted  in  administering  the 
sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  and  enjoyed  unusual  free- 
dom and  tenderness  in  all  the  exercises;  was  quite  over- 
come by  my  feelings  in  preaching.  1  have  observed  some 
time,  that  w  hen  I  go  to  any  meeting,  however  badly  I  may 
feel  beforehand,  I  soon  get  the  spirit  of  exhortation,  and  feel 
as  if  I  could  hardly  refrain  from  speaking.  In  private 
prayer,  I  have  enjoyed  unusual  engagedness,  particularly  in 
pleading  for  the  kingdom  of  Christ  to  come,  and  that  I  may 
have  grace  to  be  very  useful  in  my  generation.  *  *  * 
I  feel  encouraged   to  labor   and  pray  for  the  prosperity  of 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  129 

Attacked  with  diBcase. 

Zion  in  this  neighborhood,  and  in  this  region  generally. 
Fearing  that  the  improvements  about  my  domestic  establish- 
ment might  engross  too  much  of  my  attention  and  make  me 
too  worldly,  I  was  enabled  earnestly  to  pray  against  this 
evil.  Last  Thursday  went  to  see  Dr.  Matthews  to  converse 
with  him  about  our  preliminary  arrangements  respecting 
the  school.  We  agreed  upon  a  Constitution  for  a  Society 
to  be  called  '  The  Bethany  Education  Society.'  Our  views 
seemed  to  accord  in  every  particular." 

In  the  month  of  November,  the  health  of  our  friend  was 
affected  by  what  proved  to  be  a  fistula.  At  first  he  thought 
it  might  be  something  less  threatening.  "  Whether,"  says 
he,  "  it  should  prove  to  be  a  fistula  or  not,  the  impression 
is  so  strong  upon  my  mind  that  it  is  one,  that  it  has  led  me 
to  those  exercises  of  mind  which  are  appropriate  to  the 
anticipation  of  so  heavy  an  affliction.  I  feel  that  it  has  been 
blest  to  me.  It  has  led  me  to  reflect  on  my  r-iii-,  winch 
have  deserved  the  judgments  of  God,  and  on  His  mercy, 
which  has  averted  those  judgments  so  long.  The  effect 
has  been  humbling,  and,  I  hope,  sanctifying.  Dreading 
the  bitterness  of  that  suffering  which  would  result  from  a 
surgical  operation,  I  have  more  than  once  prayed  that  this 
cup  might  pass  from  me,  adding,  I  trust  from  the  heart,  '  not 
my  will  but  thine  be  done.'  In  two  instances,  these  pray- 
ers were  presented  in  the  exercise  of  faith  and  other  kindred 
feelings,  surpassing  anything  I  ever  before  experienced.  I 
confessed  my  sins  unto  the  Lord,  which  have  deserved  His 
chastisement,  and  prayed  that  He  would  pardon  them,  and 
not  visit  me  in  wrath,  neither  chastise  me  in  His  sore  dis- 
pleasure. I  now  commit  the  event  to  Him.  He  has  often 
been  better  to  me  than  my  fear,  and  it  may  be  so  in  this 
instance." 

Speaking  of  his  having  submitted  to  a  surgical  operation, 
he  says,  "  Painful,  but  salutary  was  the  chastisement.  My 
exercises  of  mind,  in  the  anticipation  of  this  operation  and 
while  confined  in  town,  were  more  profitable  and  comfort- 


130  MEMOIR     OP 


Surgical  operation.  Conversions. 

ing  than  any  I  ever  had  had  hefore.  They  were  the  means 
of  exciting  me  to  greater  frequency  and  engagedness  in 
prayer  than  I  had  ever  felt ;  and  I  found  my  seasons  of 
secret  devotion  peculiarly  strengthening.  I  was  much 
drawn  out  in  praying  for  a  revival  of  religion,  particu- 
larly in  Charleston  n.  Indeed  I  have,  ever  since  I  return- 
ed from  Virginia,  felt  a  confidence  in  God  that  we  should 
see  a  revival  in  that  place." 

"  While  I  considered  how  my  flesh  recoiled  from  suffering, 
I  had  a  view  of  the  Saviour's  love  and  compassion  in  vol- 
untarily submitting  to  His  suffering  and  death,  which  made 
a  deep  impression  upon  my  mind;  which  impression  I  felt 
to  he  so  important  to  my  spiritual  interest,  that  I  would  have 
been  resigned  to  all  my  sufferings,  if  that  had  heen  the  only 
advantage  I  received  from  them.  Indeed,  I  have  often  sin- 
cerely praised  the  Lord  for  this  and  all  my  afllictions,  view- 
iagtfeea  &fi  evidences  of  His  care  and  love  to  my  soul,  and 
feeling  how  much  I  needed  such  discipline.  I  tremble  to 
think  what  I  should  have  been  without  it.  For  several 
weeks  past,  I  have  been  able  to  attend  meetings  in  town. 
The  young  men  kept  them  up  during  my  confinement,  and 
the  Lord  has  begun  to  bless  our  poor  labors.  A  number  of 
young  people  have  experienced  a  hopeful  change,  and  more 

are  anxious.     Dr.  L ,  in  much  anxiety  about  his  state, 

addressed  to  me  a  long  letter,  which  led  to  an  intimacy 
between  him  and  myself,  which  I  hope  has  been  blessed  to 
his  soul." 

"  The  excitement  among  us  has  excited  our  Methodist 
brethren,  and  they  have  had  many  warm  meetings,  and  some 
professed  conversions." 

"  Dr.  Matthews  having  transferred  his  labors  from  Charles- 
town  to  Martinsburg,  the  congregation  of  the  former  place 
have  given  me  an  invitation  to  preach  to  them,  which  I  have 
accepted,  and  commenced  last  Sabbath.  I  have  received 
several  cautions  not  to  handle  them  too  roughly,  lest  they 
should  not  bear  it.  Cut  the  Lord  being  my  helper,  I  will  be 
faithful  to  them,  as  I  have  tried  to  be  to  others,  and  leave  con- 
sequences with  Him.  I  continually  pray  for  wisdom  and 
grace  sufficient  for  me.  The  situation  is  exceedingly  diffi- 
cult on  many  accounts.  But  the  Lord  can  remove  every 
obstacle,  and  cause  mountains  to  flow  down  at  His  presence." 


WILLIAM     C.     WALTON.  131 

Renewal  of  covenant.  Formation  of  an  Education  Society. 


In  the  year  1825,  he  still  seems  to  have  been  active  in 
whatever  sphere  placed,  and  anxious  to  promote  the  work 
of  the  Lord. 

"  Monday,  Feb.  21. — Yesterday  week  I  administered  the 
communion  at  Charlestown.  On  Saturday  preceding,  I 
proposed  to  the  members  of  the  church  the  propriety  of 
renewing  their  covenant  with  God,  confessing  their  sins  as 
a  church,  &-c.  Feeling  the  importance  of  success  in  this 
measure,  we  at  Bethany  had  made  it  a  particular  subject 
of  prayer,  and  now  we  saw  the  fruits  of  it — all  but  one  or 
two  expressed  their  approbation  of  the  measure.  On  Sab- 
bath there  were  some  present  who  were  not  there  on  Satur- 
day, and  three  or  four  kept  their  seats,  while  all  the  rest  rose. 
I  read  several  passages  of  scripture  to  the  point  and  made 
some  remarks  showing  the  propriety  and  importance  of  the 
measure,  and  then  read  the  document  I  had  prepared,  con- 
taining confessions,  and  promises,  &lc.  The  persons  who 
had  been  examined,  were  then  called  up  by  name  and  entered 
into  covenant.  There  were  seven,  besides  others  who  could 
not  attend,  and  who  would  have  joined  the  church  if  they 
had  been  there." 

"  May  15. — Goodness  and  mercy  still  follow  me  in  unin- 
terrupted streams,  and  it  pleases  the  Lord  still  to  exercise 
me  by  trials.  I  obtained  help  sufficient  to  raise  the  new 
building,  and  it  was  accomplished  without  the  occurrence 
of  any  disaster.  On  the  evening  of  the  day  of  raising,  I 
went  to  town  much  fatigued,  and  very  unfit  for  preaching  ; 
expecting  brother  T to  fulfil  an  appointment  for  a  ser- 
mon preparatory  to  the  communion.  But  he  did  not  come 
before  Saturday  evening,  so  I  was  constrained  to  preach 
twice  under  those  circumstances,  when  I  had  not  expected 
to  preach  at  all.  But  I  was  assisted,  and  I  trust  good  was 
done.  Seven  more  were  added  to  the  church,  and  since 
that  time  some  little  boys  hope  they  have  experienced  a 
change." 

"  On  the  Monday  following  the  communion,  we  had  a 
meeting  for  the  formation  of  our  Education  Society.  There 
were  more  present  than  I  expected.  The  addresses  were 
good,  and  made,  I  think,  an  impression  favorable  to  the 
object.  More  was  subscribed  than  I  expected.  The  insti- 
tution is  thus  established  on  such  a  footing  as  gives  every 
encouragement  to  hope  and  believe  it  will  go  on.     Indeed 


132  MEMOIR     OF 


Singular  instance  of  the  effect  nt'iiis  preaching. 


it  appears  very  evident  to  me  that  the  Lord  smiles  upon  it, 
and  when  I  consider  how  much  has  been  gained  in  a  few 
months,  in  its  resources,  and  in  the  public  estimation,  I  am 
led  to  say,  '  it  is  the  Lord's  doing,  and  it  is  marvellous  in 
our  eves.'  " 

Having  paid  a  visit  to  Baltimore  this  spring,  he  thus 
speaks  of  it:  "I  have  just  returned  from  Baltimore,  where 
I  attended  the  Presbytery,  and  took  my  dismission  to  join  the 
Presbytery  of  Winchester.  I  was  pleased  to  find  those  who 
were  brought  into  the  church  in  our  revival,  generally  walk- 
ing in  the  truth,  and  bringing  forth  the  fruits  of  righteous- 
ness. Some  whom  I  left  under  impressions  have  since  ex- 
perienced a  hopeful  change,  and  one  has  died  in  triumph, 
and  another  is  on  her  death  bed  in  a  sweet  and  triumphant 
state  of  mind.  I  was  much  encouraged  by  her  conversa- 
tion. She  reminded  me  of  what  I  had  said  to  her,  which 
she  thinks  was  the  means  of  her  conversion.  I  had  been 
conversing  with  her,  and  having  reason  to  believe  she  was 
a  stranger  to  experimental  religion,  although  she  had  long 

been  a  professor,  I  said  to  her,  '  Mrs.  B ,  forget  all  that 

you  have  done  in  religion — let  it  go  for  nothing,  aiid  come 
to  Christ  as  a  lost  sinner.'  She  shortly  afterwards  obtained 
'joy  and  peace  in  believing,'  as  also  her  son  and  daughter, 
who  had  been  professors,  and  they  have  sustained  an  exem- 
plary christian  character  ever  since,  particularly  the  mother 
and  daughter." 

As  it  was  ever  the  study  and  prayer  of  Mr.  Walton  to 
present  the  truth  with  as  much  point  and  power  as  possible, 
60  various  instances  occurred  of  his  success  in  the  things  so 
much  desired.  During  the  above  visit,  a  gentleman  went  to 
hear  him  preach,  and  on  returning  home,  so  powerful  was  his 
conviction  of  the  truth,  that  he  shut  himself  up  for  several 
hours,  and  on  emerging  from  his  solitude,  vainly  endeav- 
ored to  conceal  the  fact,  apparent  in  his  eye  and  on  his 
countenance,  that  there  was  an  inward  struggle,  relief  from 
which  had  been   sought  in  tears.     But  the  stubborn  heart 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  1 33 

Different  kinds  of  preachings 

resisted  the  truth  il  feared.  lie  could  with  the  utmost  dif- 
ficulty be  persuaded  to  go  and  hear  again  so  troublesome  a 
preacher.  "  I  can  hear  other  men  preach,"  said  he,  "  with- 
out much  uneasiness,  but  Walton  troubles  me  so  much,  1 
cannot  bear  to  hear  him  ! "  Yet  he  was  not  an  orator. 
He  was  not  endowed  with  the  graces  of  a  captivating  elo- 
quence. Still  less  did  lie  wreathe  the  sword  of  the  Spirit 
with  gay  and  beautiful  garlands.  In  the  language  of  an  able 
writer  "  he  knew  that  the  more  an  orator  is  intent  upon 
gaining  admiration,  the  less  those  who  hear  him  are  disposed 
to  grant  it,  and  that  this  ambition  is  the  rock  on  which  so 
many  preachers  have  split,  who  being  entrusted,  if  one  may 
dare  thus  express  it,  with  the  interests  of  the  Godhead,  wish 
to  mingle  with  them  the  insignificant  interests  of  their  own 
vanity." 

There  is  a  preaching  which  pleases  the  imagination,  but 
never  pains  the  heart ;  which  informs  the  understanding, 
but  moves  not  the  soul ;  which,  like  the  electric  fluid,  in  its 
diffused  and  harmless  state,  plays  round  the  intellect,  but 
gives  no  shock  to  the  conscience.  On  the  other  hand, 
there  is  that  which,  while  it  kindles  the  imagination,  melts 
the  heart;  while  it  pours  light  into  the  understanding,  stirs 
up  the  soul  to  high  duties  and  to  moral  deeds  that  cast  their 
influence  beyond  the  limits  of  time.  "  It  agitates  without 
convulsing;  alarms  without  appalling;  penetrates  without 
rending  the  heart."  Of  Massilon  it  is  said,  that  Louis  XIV. 
while  he  could  hear  others,  and  admire  the  preacher,  never 
left  his  sermons  without  being  dissatisfied  with  himself. 

How  do  they  mistake  their  high  commission,  and  suffer 
themselves  to  be  deceived  by  their  own  hearts,  who  would 
dismiss  a  hearer,  rather  delighted  with  their  pulpit  abilities, 
than  distressed  with  the  state  of  his  own  heart,  or  won  over 
to  the  cause  of  Jesus  Christ.  This  is  not  hiding  behind 
your  Master,  so  that  "  so  much  as  your  little  finger  cannot 
be  seen."     As  a  general  fact,  it  must  be  admitted,  that  the 

12 


134  MEMOIR     OF 


Character  of  the  ministry  in  the  United  States.    Times  of  trial  would  develope  it. 

evangelical  ministry  of  the  United  States  is  a  faithful  min- 
istry ;  faithful  at  least,  so  far  as  the  intrepid  announcement 
of  the  plain  truth  is  concerned  ;  whatever  deficiencies  there 
may  he  in  the  work  of  pastoral  visitation.  This  fact, 
taken  in  connection  with  the  consideration,  that  most  of 
the  pastors  depend  on  their  congregations  for  the  support 
of  themselves  and  their  families,  is  highly  creditable  to 
them. 

We  have  heard  of  the  plain  speaking  of  such  men  as 
Latimer,  Baxter,  and  Bradford  before  kings,  prelates,  and 
judges,  in  times  of  deep  trouble  and  of  fiery  trial,  but  who 
shall  say  that  in  our  own  country — if,  unhappily,  her  civil 
foundations  should  ever  be  overthrown,  her  fundamental 
doctrines  of  religious  liberty  reversed,  and  the  powers  that 
now  protect,  should  be  converted  into  powers  to  oppress 
and  persecute  ;  who  shall  say,  that  such  an  emergency  would 
not  call  forth  from  their  peaceful  retirement  heroic  men, 
who  with  unflinching  nerve  would  boldly  rebuke  the  wick- 
edness enthroned  in  high  places? 

As  a  specimen  of  ministerial  fidelity,  I  might  quote  the 
example  of  one  of  our  distinguished  preachers,  mature  in 
age,  but  still  vigorous  in  intellect,  who  to  the  energies  of 
natural  genius,  adds  the  treasures  of  a  rich  and  varied 
experience.  The  occasion  was  that  of  a  protracted  meet- 
ing in  the  Fourth  Presbyterian  Church,  Washington,  of 
which  the  author  was  then  (1831)  pastor.  The  time  was 
Sabbath  morning — the  audience  large,  and  in  the  midst  sat 
the  present  and  the  late  President  of  the  United  States, 
undistinguished  in  dress,  attendance,  or  elevation  of  seat, 
from  their  fellow  sinners,  that  composed  the  rest  of  the 
assembly.  Among  the  subjects  of  prayer,  the  President 
and  the  (then)  Secretary  of  State  were  mentioned.  To  the 
sermon  they  listened  with  attention.  As  the  feelings  of 
the  preacher  rose  in  view  of  the  moral  grandeur  of  the  sub- 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  1 35 

The  minister  who  preached  the  truth  to  Gen.  Jackson  and  Mr.  Van  Bnren. 

ject,  he    fixed  his  eye   in  solemn    tenderness   on  the   two 
eminent  men  before  him,  and  spoke  thus  : 

"  Where,"  he  asked,  addressing  himself  to  those  dignita- 
ries, "are  the  political  men  of  our  country?  What  are 
they  doing?  Are  you  qualifying  yourselves  for  the  king- 
dom of  Heaven  1  If  not,  you  must  be  undone  forever.  I 
know  your  excuses,  but  they  will  all  be  swept  away.  Who 
studied  with  greater  humility  than  King  David  the  govern- 
ment of  God  ?  It  is  my  practice  to  study  the  Word  of 
God  every  morning.  I  should  long  ago  have  lost  my  soul, 
if  I  had  not  done  it ;  so  full  of  cares  is  life,  so  drunken  are 
we  with  cares.  Gentlemen,  turn  into  your  study  every 
morning  the  first  thing,  with  the  Bible,  and  don't  let  any 
one  interrupt  you,  till  you  have  finished  this  duty.  How 
great  will  be  your  anguish,  if  you  neglect  this  !  God  can't 
help  your  misspent  life,  when  once  it  is  lost.  Away  with 
your  reputation.  How  can  ye  love  God,  who  seek  honor 
one  of  another  ?  Gentlemen,  your  misery  will  be  greater 
than  that  of  ignorant  men.  Let  me  be  plain,  for  I  hold  an 
office  higher  than  any  earthly  office.  I  hold  my  commission 
from  the  King  of  Heaven.  I  would  plead,  and  beg,  and  pray, 
and  lay  myself  at  your  feet.  In  the  name  of  my  God  !  come, 
come,  don't  make  light  of  it !  if  you  do,  you  must  lie  down 
in  hell  forever !" 

Deep  seriousness  pervaded  the  whole  assembly.  No 
heart  there  but  seemed  to  pay  homage  to  the  dignity  of 
truth,  the  sublimity  of  the  Gospel,  the  elevated  office  of  its 
messenger,  and  the  imperative  claims  of  God  upon  the  con- 
science. Smaller  men  would  have  cavilled.  The  chief 
magistrate  and  his  friend,  it  was  understood,  duly  estimated, 
if  they  were  not  savingly  affected  by  the  plain  dealings  of 
the  Lord's  ambassador.  It  reminds  one  of  the  interview 
of  Latimer  with    Henry  VIII.*     The    anecdote   is  given 


*  It  is  related  of  Latimer,  that  when  he  once  preached  before  that  tyrant  Henry 
VIII.  he  took  a  plain,  straightforward  text,  and  in  his  sermon  assailed  those  very 
sins  for  which  the  monarch  was  notorious,  and  he  was  stung  to  the  quick,  for  truth 
always  finds  a  response  in  the  worst  man's  conscience.  He  would  not  bend  beneath 
the  authority  of  his  God,  and  he  therefore  sent  for  Latimer,  and  said,    '  Your  life  is 


1 3()  M  E  M  O  I  It     O  F    W  A  L  T  O  N  . 

iinirj  VIII.  and  lliifili  Latimer. 

below,  simply  to  illustrate  the  boldness  of  that  celebrated 
prelate,  who  closed  a  long  and  useful  life  with  a  violent, 
though  blessed  death  ai  the  stake,  at  the  age  of  85! 


irdy,  if  you  do  not  recant  nil  you  Baid  to-day  when  you  prcaoh  next  Bun 
day.'  The  trimming  courtiers  were  all  anxious  to  know  the  consequence  of  tliis, 
ami  the  chapel  was  crowd<  d.  rhet  enerable  man  took  ins  text,  and,  after  a  pause, 
begun  with  a  soliloquy,  thus :  -.New.  Hugh  Latimer,  bethink  thee,  thou  art  in  the 
presence  of  thy  earthly  monarch;  tby  life  is  in  his  bauds,  and  if  thou  dost  nol  suit 
thyself  to  his  fancies,  be  will  bring  down  thy  graj  hairs  with  blood  to  the  grave  but, 
Hugh  Latimer,  bethink  thee  thou  art  in  the  presence  of  the  King  of  kings  and  Lord  of 
lords,  who  hath  told  thee, '  feat  not  thi  m  thai  kill  the  bi  dy,  and  then  can  do  no  more; 
but  rather  fear  Bim  who  can  kill  both  body  and  soul  and  cast  thi  e  into  bell  forever ! ' 
Tea,  I  say,  Hugh  Latimer,  fear  Him.'  He  then  went  on,  and  nol  only  repeated  what 
he  had  before  advanced,  but,  if  po  sible,  enforced  it  with  greater  emphasis.  What 
was  the  i  Henry  sent  for  him,  and  said,  'How  dura)  thou  insult  thy 

monarch  >o  ? '  Latimer  replied,  '  1  thought  if!  were  unfaithful  to  my  Chid,  it  would 
be  impossible  to  be  loyal  to  my  Kinf;. '  The  king  embraced  the  good  old  bishop, 
exclaiming, '  And  is  there  yet  one  man  left,  who  Is  bold  and  honest  enough  to  tell  me 
the  truth  ! ' 


CHAPTER     VIII. 


Walton  In  affliction. 


We  have  now  to  present  the  character  and  experience  of 
our  friend  in  circumstances  somewhat  new.  We  are  to 
contemplate  him  in  the  school  of  affliction,  where  God  trains 
so  many  of  His  children  for  usefulness  here,  and  glory 
hereafter.  "  Affliction,"  says  Matthew  Henry,  "  is  the  dis- 
cipline of  God's  school,  wherehy  his  children  are  trained 
up  in  the  way  in  which  they  should  go.  And  it  is  necessa- 
ry ;  as  needful  as  weeding  is  to  the  garden  ;  as  pruning  to 
the  vine ;  as  physic  to  the  body.  Do  not  expect  to  find  it 
all  carpet-way  to  Heaven.  Stormy  weather  makes  the  har- 
bor desirable."  Or  if  we  take  the  beautiful  illustration  of 
Oberlin  :  "  I  have  before  me  two  stones,  which  are  an  imi- 
tation of  precious  stones.  They  are  both  perfectly  alike  in 
color  ;  they  are  of  the  same  water,  clear,  pure,  and  clean,' 
yet  there  is  a  marked  difference  between  them  as  to  their 
lustre  and  brilliancy.  One  has  a  dazzling  brightness, 
while  the  other  is  dull,  so  that  the  eye  passes  over  it,  and 
derives  no  pleasure  from  the  sight.  What  can  be  the  reason 
of  this  difference  ?  It  is  this.  The  one  is  cut  in  but  a  few 
facets.  The  other  has  ten  times  as  many.  These  facets 
are  produced  by  a  very  violent  operation.  It  is  requisite  to 
cut,  to  smooth,  and  to  polish.  Could  the  stones  feel  the 
12* 


138  MEMOIR     OF 


Oberlln'a  Illustration  Bicknenof  his  daughter. 

operation,  the  one  which  had  received  eighty  facets,  would 
have  thought  itself  very  unhappy,  and  would  have  envied 
the  fate  of  the  other,  which,  having  received  but  eight, 
endured  but  a  tenth  part  of  its  sufferings.  Nevertheless, 
the  operation  being  over,  it  is  done  forever.  The  differ- 
ence between  the  two  stones  always  remains  strongly  mark- 
ed. That  which  has  suffered  but  little,  is  entirely  eclipsed 
by  the  other,  which  alone  is  held  in  estimation,  and  attracts 
attention.  May  not  this  serve  to  explain  the  saying  of  our 
Saviour,  whose  words  always  have  reference  to  eternity, 
'  "Blessed  un  they  that  mourn,  for  they  shall  be  comforted?' 
Blessed,  whether  we  contemplate  them  apart,  or  in  com- 
parison with  those,  who  have  not  passed  through  so  many 
trials." 

There  are  probably  (e\v  parents,  who  will  not  be  interest- 
ed in  the  following  record  : 

"Bethany,  Oct.  8. — During  the  last  four  weeks,  we  have 
had  more  family  afflictions  than  we  ever  had  before,  I  be- 
lieve, since  we  have  been  a  family.     My  sister  and  M 

exhausted  by  fatigue  and  loss  of  rest  in  waiting  upon  my 
mother  day  and  night,  were  first  attacked.  Their  cases 
were  extremely  critical  and  obstinate;  but  through  mercy, 
both  are  recovering.  On  Saturday  night,  Sept.  14th,  our 
dear  little  daughter  Margaret  Ann,  was  taken,  although 
we  did  not  think  the  attack  violent.  On  Sunday  morning 
early,  we  gave  her  medicine,  which  seemed  to  have  a  good 
effect,  and  in  the  afternoon  she  was  so  much  better,  that 
her  mother  and  I  left  her  to  go  to  Wickliffe,  where  I  had 
an  appointment  to  preach.  On  our  return  we  found  her 
rather   worse.     On   Monday  her   head    became  very  much 

affected.     Dr.  S was  sent  for,  who  employed  the  most 

active  and  efficient  remedies.  But  the  hand  of  the  Lord 
was  heavy  upon  her.  Her  delirium  increased  to  a  most 
distressing  height  :  so  that  she  required  and  received  the 
most  unremitting  and  painful  attention  day  and  night,  for 
nineteen  days  and  nights  in  succession.  During  the  greater 
part  of  this  time  her  sufferings  appeared  to  be  most  intense. 
The  pain  of  blisters,  of  which  she  had  in  all  twelve ;  the 
suffering  arising  from  the  most  agonizing  sickness  at  the 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  1.30 

ller  death,  lis  Hint.  Anecdote 

stomach,  causing  her  to  cry  out  almost  continually,  (I  think 
she  must  have  said,  '  Oh  (liar  '  nearly  10,1100  times!  )  from 
lifting  her  in  and  out  of  the  warm  bath,  which  operation  was 

repeated,  some  days  and  nights,  about  ten  times;  from 
taking  medicine,  bleeding,  &c,  all  amounted  to  more  posi- 
tive anguish  than  1  ever  witnessed  in  any  person,  for  so 
many  days  in  succession.  Often  were  our  hopes  raised, 
and  as  often  sunk  again  ;  every  instance  of  which  had  its 
appropriate  effect  on  my  mind,  in  driving  me  to  the  throne 
of  grace  in  prayer  and  in  praise.  Never  did  any  child  feel 
the  effect  of  the  rod*  more  sensibly  than  T  felt  this,  and 
nothing  over  had  such  an  effect  in  quickening  me  to  call 
upon  God.  I  feel  that  I  needed  just  such  an  affliction,  and 
my  alternate  hopes  and  fears  during  this  whole  season  of 
trial  were  most  salutary.  I  often  enjoyed  a  greater  freedom 
and  comfort  in  prayer  than  1  ever  had  done  before.  1  low- 
often  did  I  entreat  the  Lord  to  take  away  my  iniquities  and 
cause  his  anger  against  me  to  cease;  to  raise  the  dear  little 
creature  to  health,  if  it  could  be  consistent  with  his  wise 
and  holy  purposes;  if  not,  to  prepare  her  for  a  seat  at  his 
right  hand,  and  to  give  us  the  evidence  of  it  before  he 
removed  her,  for  our  comfort!  Well,  He  did  not  restore 
her  to  health,  but  He  answered  my  prayer — blessed  be  his 
Name !  He  gave  us  more  evidence  than  I  could  have 
expected  in  the  nature  of  the  case,  that  He  had  made  her 
a  subject  of  his  grace.  This  tilled  my  heart  with  joy,  and 
my  mouth  with  praise.  Although  I  never  before  felt  my 
affection  for  her  so  sensibly,  yet  I  never  was  so  happy  in 
all  my  life,  as  I  was  this  morning  after  she  died,  during 
some  religious  exercises  we  had.     It  was  a  feast  of  feeling 

*  Not  long  since,  a  lady  of  the  author's  acquaintance,  a  professing  Christian,  who 
had  drank  deep  ofthe  cup  of  maternal  affliction — having  in  early  life  buried  two  chil- 
dren, as  she  saw  the  tli  g  infant  son— in  >  i  to  won- 
der, to  doubt,  perhaps  even  to  murmur  at  such  reiterated  strokes.  "Why  am  I," 
thought  she,  "  treated  with  such  severity  1  What  have]  done  to  deserve  it  ?"  While 
thoughts  like  these  were  permitted  to  disturb  the  tranquility  of  Christian  submission, 
Intelligence  was  brought  her  that  another  sun.  beloved  of  his  pan  nts,  had  fallen  into  a 
vessel  ofb  dling  water,  and  was  probably  scalded  to  death!  It  was  enough.  She  bowed 
in  sweet  submission  to  the  double  stroke,  ejaculated  my  Fatherl  banded  over  her 
infant  to  die  in  the  amis  of  a  friend,  and  prepared  to  do  all  she  could  for  the  comfort 
of  her  agonized  hoy,  till  God  should  call  him  to  follow  his  little  brother  to  the  tomb  '. 
But  the  child,  though  almost  mortally  injured,  through  the  goodness  of  God  survived, 
and  the  mother  has  learned  to  say,  Thy  Kill  be  done ! 


1 40  MEMOIR     OP 


Estimate  <>f  its  influence. 


— it  continues  to  this  moment,  when  I  dwell  upon  the  same 
considerations.  I  was  almost  overwhelmed  with  a  sense  of 
obligation  for  Divine  favors.  Never  did  I  praise  the  Lord 
in  such  a  manner  before.  Never  did  He  seem  so  near. 
Never  did  the  Gospel  appear  so  precious.  Never  did  1  feel 
desires  so  strong  and  unmingled,  to  be  holy,  and  live  entire- 
ly to  the  glory  of  God.  Oh  may  He  in  infinite  mercy  hear 
the  main/  prayers  that  have  been  offered  up,  that  these 
afflictions  might  be  abundantly  sanctified  to  us  all !  and 
that  they  may  prepare  us  for  more  usefulness,  and  prepare 
the  people  to  receive  the  Gospel  message.  During  the  same 
time,  about  twenty  members  of  my  family  have  been  sick! 
What  a  mercy,  that  though  often  much  indisposed  and 
obliged  to  take  medicine,  yet  my  dear  wife  and  myself 
have  been  enabled  to  attend  upon  the  sick  continually  ! 
For  twenty  nights  I  never  had  my  clothps  off  but  once. 
We  experienced  much  kindness  from  friends  during  the 
whole  of  our  affliction,  and  they  were  brought  to  our  assist- 
ance so  seasonably,  that  the  hand  of  the  Lord  was  evidently 
in  it.  Nothing  else  probably  would  have  impressed  so 
deeply  upon  our  minds  the  importance  of  praying  and 
laboring  more  intensely  for  the  conversion  of  our  children, 
and  so  convinced  us  that  the  Lord  ran,  out  of  the  mouths 
of  babes  and  sucklings,  perfect  his  praise.  This  is  a  great 
mercy  to  us  and  to  our  children.  She  is  also  taken  from 
temptations  innumerable,  which  might  have  been  fatal  and 
destructive  to  her  soul ;  and  now  she  is,  I  have  abundant 
reason  to  believe,  secure  and  happy  in  the  arms  of  that 
Redeemer  in  whom  she  trusted,  and  who  though  unseen, 
appeared  to  be  so  precious  to  her  soul !  Wheu  1  consider 
these  things,  and  all  the  good  which  the  Lord  designed  to 
do  to  me  and  mine,  by  this  dispensation,  my  soul  is  filled 
with  wonder,  love,  and  praise.  He  might  have  taught  us 
some  of  the  same  things  by  snatching  our  child  away  sud- 
denly without  hope ;  but  in  teaching  us  lessons  of  the 
greatest  practical  importance,  He  has  conferred  infinite 
mercy  upon  a  dear  child  !  Indeed  1  see  so  much  more 
mercy  than  severity  in  our  afflictions,  great  as  to  some 
they  may  appear,  that  there  is  an  unspeakable  sweetness  in 
them.  It  seems  that  I  have  tasted  no  bitterness  at  all. 
Although  the  dear  little  creature  had  suffered  more  than 
language  can  describe  during  the  greater  part  of  her  illness, 
yet  a  short  time  before  she  died,  she  appeared  to  be  perfectly 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  141 

Hon  shall  ministers  comfort  others  '.  Letter. 

easy,  and  like  one  sinking  into  a  sweet  and  tranquil  sleep. 
I  never  saw  any  human  being  die  so  easily.  Her  soul  look 
its  Bight  at  10  o'clock,  this  morning.     Glory  to  God,  the 

Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Spirit.      .Amen!" 

"  Tuesday,  Nov.  I">. — My  dear  child  still  feels  as  pre- 
cious to  me  as  ever,  and  I  feel  her  loss  more  sensibly  than 
I  did  at  first;  but  I  have  the  same  views  of  the  kindness 
and  mercy  of  God  in  our  afflictions.  I  never  felt  so  much 
as  il'the  heart  of  stone  was  taken  away  and  a  heart  of  flesh 
was  given  me,  as  1  have  since  the  death  of  my  child.  Never 
for  the  same  length  of  time  did  1  enjoy  so  uniformly  free- 
dom and  comfort  in  prayer.'' 

Ministers  must  be  taught  by  very  painful  and  practical 
lessons,  how  to  draw  comfort  from  the  heavenly  fountain; 
how  to  submit  to  the  discipline  and  bless  the  dealings  of 
the  '  Father  of  mercies,  and  the  God  of  all  comfort,  who 
comforteth  us  in  all  our  tribulation,  that  we  may  be  able  to 
comfort  them,  who  are  in  any  trouble,  by  the  comfort, 
wherewith  we  ourselves  are  comforted  of  God.'  How  can 
gold  be  tried,  if  it  be  not  cast  into  the  furnace?  Let  the 
reader  ponder  that  passage.     1  Peter  i.  6 — 8. 

In  a  letter  to  some  female  friends,  the  inmates  of  the 
same  family,  dated  at  Bethany,  he  thus  writes : 

"  Bethany,  Nov.  10,  1835. 
"  Dear  Sisters, 

*  *  *  Nothing  ever  affected  me  so  deeply  as 
this.  It  would  be  insupportable,  but  for  those  consolations 
which  the  Gospel  imparts.  These  consolations  are  abund- 
ant in  the  present  case.  I  shall  ever  look  back,  upon  this 
season  of  affliction,  as  peculiarly  precious  and  profitable  to 
me ;  for  never  before  did  I  taste  and  see  and  feel  so  much 
of  the  goodness  and  mercy  of  God.  May  I  never  lose  the 
impressions  which  this  dispensation  has  made  upon  my 
mind  !  And  may  you,  my  dear  sisters,  find  the  Lord  to  be 
'  a  present,  a  very  present  help,  in  every  time  of  need.'  Oh 
what  a  privilege  it  is  to  be  in  his  hands,  and  under  his  dis- 
cipline !  My  obligations  are  greatly  enhanced  by  the  grace 
given  to  my  dear  wife  in  this  season  of  trial.  I  never  saw 
Christian  resignation  in  greater  perfection  than  I  have  seen 


142  MEMOIR     OF 


Sketch  of  Margaret  Ann.  How  she  was  taught. 

it  in  her.  You  would  wonder  at  it  the  more,  if  you  knew 
what  a. precious  child  we  have  lost,  and  how  much  we  loved 
her,  and  love  her  still.  Lost  !  I  retract — that  word  does 
not  express  what  we  feel  to  he  the  fact.  We  do  not  feel  as 
if  she  were  lost.  No  !  We  have  a  joyful  hope  that  we  shall 
soon  see  her  and  embrace  her.  Oh  how  changed  and  exalt- 
ed ! — in  that  happy  world  to  which  she  has  gone,  never  to 
part  again." 

"  These  glorious  hopes  we  owe 
To  Jesus'  dying  love, 
We  would  adore  his  grace  below, 
And  sing  his  power  above." 

"  .Mrs.  Walton  is  in  Charlestown  at  present,  or  she  would 
unite  with  me  in  love  to  you  all,   to   dear  brother   Wilson, 
and  to  all  other  friends  in  Fredericksburg. 
Very  affectionately, 

W.  C.  Walton." 

A  very  interesting  sketch  of  the  character  of  this  little 
daughter  was  written  and  published  by  her  father,  entitled, 
"Juvenile  Piety  and  Intelligence,  illustrated  in  the  Life  and 
Death  of  Margaret  Ann  Walton — to  which  is  added,  Re- 
marks on  the  religious  education  of  Children,  addressed  to 
Christian  Parents."  This  book  has  reached  a  second  edi- 
tion. The  "  Remarks  "  are  acute  and  instructive.  Marga- 
ret Ann  was  a  lovely,  intelligent,  and  pious  child.  But 
there  was  nothing  miraculous,  if  any  thing  extraordinary  in 
her  history.  I  mean  that  the  early  fruits  of  holy  living  and 
dying,  which  she  brought  forth,  naturally  resulted  from  the 
assiduous  moral  culture  bestowed  on  her  heart  by  her 
parents,  which  brouo;ht  her  within  the  promised  blessing 
of  the   Spirit.*     That   indeed  was  probably  extraordinary. 


*The  learned  Ahrrcrombie  in  his  book,  "Inquiries  concerning  the  Intellectual 
Powers,"  speaking  of  the  principle  of  association,  says  ;  "  The  stern  lessons  of  moral- 
ity, and  even  tin- suliliine  truths  of  religion,  may  be  rigidly  impresssd  on  the  minds 
of  the  young,  and  may  in  after  life  recur  from  time  to  time,  as  a  mere  matter  of 
remembrance  ;  but  many  must  have  experienced  how  different  the  impression,  when 
they  recur  in  close  association  with  a  father's  affection,  ami  a  mother's  tenderness — 
with  the  lively  recollection  of  a  home,  where  the  kindest  sympathies  of  the  human 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  143 

Hannah,  the  colored  woman.  The  politician  reproved. 


During  her  whole  life,  it  is  believed  they  never  passed  a 
day  without  praying  for  that  child.  Great  pains  were  taken 
to  impress  her  with  the  truth  that  merely  saying  the  words 
of  a  prayer  was  not  praying,  that  it  was  the  heart  that 
prayed,  and  that  God  always  looked  at  the  heart.  Often 
was  her  mind  intensely  excited  in  the  view  of  holy  truth, 
presented  to  it  in  the  form  of  the  simple  hymn  and  the 
instructive  catechism. 

When  at  her  grandmother's  in  Charlestown,  (she  was  then 
between  six  and  seven  years  old,)  at  the  close  of  a  prayer 
meeting,  she  retired  to  the  next  room,  where  was  a  colored 
woman,  and  began  to  address  her  with  the  simplicity  and 
enthusiasm  of  a  child,  heightened  by  her  emotion  as  a  Christ- 
ian. She  expressed  tender  pity  for  her  condition,  reminded 
her  of  the  awful  place  to  which  she  was  going,  and  illus- 
trated its  terrors  by  an  allusion  to  the  flames  of  the  fire  then 
burning  in  the  room.  "  Hannah,"  said  the  little  preacher, 
"  have  you  given  you  heart  to  the  Lord  ?"  "  No,"  replied 
her  auditor,  surprised  at  the  importunity  of  the  child.  "  J 
have,"  said  Margaret  Ann,  "  and  now  I  will  pray  that  you 
may  do  so  too."  They  dropped  on  their  knees  before  God, 
and  while  the  child  prayed,  the  heart  of  the  woman  melted. 
Hannah  soon  became  a  convert  to  the  faith  of  Jesus,  and  a 
member  of  the  Christian  Church ! 

Leaning  one  day  on  the  knee  of  a  gentleman,  a  political 
aspirant,  who  was  visiting  the  house  of  her  uncle,  after  a 
pause  in  the  conversation,  which  being  on  politics,  had 
flowed  fast  and  fiercely,  Margaret  Ann  looked  up  in  the  face 
of  the  visitor  in  a  very  serious  and  artless  manner,  and 
said,  "Haitian  was  hanged!" 

The  closing  scene  was  melancholy  but  beautiful.  It 
exhibited  the  lights  and  shades  of  that  picture  so  often  wit- 
heart  shed  around  the  domestic  circle  all  that  is  lovely  in  life,  while  a  mild  and  con- 
sistent piety  habitually  pointed  the  way  to  a  life  which  is  to  come." — Part  III.  Sec.  I. 
On  Memory. 


144  MEMOIR   OP 


The  closing  scene.  Addison's  remark.  Expressions  of  the  dying  girl. 

nessed,  but  so  soon  forgotten,  in  which  Dentil  is  the  prin- 
cipal figure,  though  shorn  of  his  tenors;  Sin,  the  discom- 
fitted  Tyrant  :  and  Religion,  the  8 weet  and  holy  (renins,  that 
sheds  her  cheerful  light  and  joyful  hope  over  the  scene, 
kindling  the  raptures  of  heaven  at  the  very  gates  of  the  grave  ! 
What  Addison  has  said  *  of  the  triumphant  death  of  the 
eminent  in  life,  may  he  repeated  of  the  huinhle  child: 
"There  is  nothing  in  history,  which  is  so  improving  to  the 
reader,  as  those  accounts  which  we  meet  with  of  the  death 
of  eminent  persons,  and  of  their  behavior  in  that  dreadful 
season.  1  may  also  add,  that  there  are  do  parts  of  history, 
which  affect  and  please  the  reader  in  so  sensible  a  manner. 
The  reason  1  rake  to  be  this,  because  there  can  be  no  other 
singular  circumstance  in  the  history  of  any  single  person, 
which  can  possibly  be  the  case  of  every  one  who  reads  it." 
A  higher  reason  exists  in  the  case  of  the  dying  Christian, 
even  if  the  lower  be  true. 

When  Margaret  Ann  was  writhing  in  her  last  pains,  she 
would  say,  "Read  to  me  about  the  sufferings  of  Jesus."  As 
she  approached  eternity,  she  prayed,  "  ()  Jesus,  love  me." 
She  was  asked,  "  Will  you  sit  down  in  a  corner  of  heaven 
with  that  little  girl,  of  whom  you  have  read,  and  sing  halle- 
lujah with  her?"  She  replied,  "Oh  !  there  is  room  enough 
in  heaven,  without  sitting  down  in  a  corner."  While  tears 
flowed  freely  from  the  eyes  of  those  who  surrounded  her 
bed,  she  was  asked  by  her  father:  "  Whom  do  you  expect 
to  see  when  you  get  to  heaven  ? "  "  .)  bstjs,"  was  her  reply. 
"And  will  you  praise  Him?"  "  Yes,"  said  she.  "And 
lor  what  will  you  praise  Him  ?  "  "  For  His  loving  kind- 
ness," was  the  firm,  sweet,  distinct,  ardent  reply  of  the  dying 
Margaret  Ann.  An  angel  might,  if  he  could,  have  envied 
the  triumphant  emotions  of  that  heart. 

It  was  in  such  a  frame  that  her  gentle  spirit  took  its  flight 
to  heaven.    Said  her  afflicted  fathi  r,  "  The  tears  which  were 


:  Spectator,  No.  289. 


WILLIAM     C  . 

WALTON.                      145 

Reasonableness  of  early  piety. 

A  soul  stirring  thought. 

shed  over  her,  were  tears  of  gratitude,  of  affection,  and  of 
joy,  and  not  of  sorrow."  Now  let  the  atheist  mock — the 
infidel  sneer — the  sceptic  doubt — the  philosopher  disbelieve 
— the  physiologist  explain — the  unbeliever  smile,  and  even 
the  professor  of  religion  hesitate,  but  let  the  angels  of  heaven 
and  the  friends  of  God  on  earth,  rejoice  at  the  triumphs  of 
faith  in  the  humblest  candidate  for  glory.  '  Take  heed 
that  ye  despise  not  one  of  these  little  ones,  for  I  say  unto 
you  that  in  heaven  their  angels  do  always  behold  the  face 
of  my  Father.' 

Who  can  tell  at  how  young  an  age  the  blessed  Spirit  may 
begin  to  shed  His  sacred  influence  upon  the  immortal  mind 
which  Himself  has  made?  Does  not  the  dew-drop  from 
heaven  fall  upon  the  tender  bud  ?  Does  it  not  lodge  there  ? 
Why  ?  That  the  creative,  quickening  energy  of  Divine 
Power  may,  through  this  appointed  means,  unfold  the  attri- 
butes of  Life.  If  God  so  cares  for  vegetable  life,  will  He 
not  teach,  train  and  ripen  an  infant  soul  for  glory  ?  "  Oh!" 
said  an  eloquent  friend,  once  addressing  me  on  this  subject, 
and  alluding  to  the  morning  of  the  resurrection,  "  among 
the  varied  extacy  of  that  extatic  hour,  will  not  the  meeting 
of  mothers  with  their  dead  babes,  dead  then  no  more,  pre- 
sent one  of  the  most  moving  of  all  the  heart-melting  spec- 
tacles of  that  day  of  wonders  ?  Then  let  us  lift  up  ourselves 
from  the  ashes  of  the  dead,  and  raise  our  eyes  on  high." 

"  Beyond  the  confines  of  the  tomb 
Appears  the  dawn  of  Heaven." 

To  the  unthinking  mind,  it  may  seem  a  heavier  calamity 
to  a  parent  to  bury  a  manly  and  blooming  son,  than  the  more 
retiring  daughter,  from  whom  less  of  public  achievement  is 
expected,  but  let  not  this  be  believed.  The  daughter — and 
the  author  has  advanced  the  idea  elsewhere — clings,  like  the 
rose  leaf  around  the  stem,  to  the  parent  home  and  the  par- 
ent heart.  She  watches  the  approving  smile,  and  depre- 
cates the  slightest  shade  on  the  brow ;  she  wanders  not  on 
13 


146  MEMOIR    OF 


The  daughter  and  the  son  compared.  Installation  at  Charlestown. 


forbidden  pleasure  grounds ;  wrings  not  the  hearts  at  home 
with  her  doubtful  midnight  absence,  nor  wrecks  the  fond 
hopes  which  she  has  concentrated  upon  herself.  Wherever 
the  son  may  wander  in  search  of  fortune  or  pleasure,  there 
is  the  daughter  within  the  sacred  temple  of  home,  the  vestal 
virgin  of  its  innermost  sanctuary,  keeping  alive  the  flame  of 
domestic  affection,  and  blessing  that  existence,  of  which  she 
is  herself  a  part !  When  to  charms  like  these  are  added 
the  graces  of  an  ardent  and  consistent  piety,  the  fond  par- 
ents may  even  here  antedate  the  bliss  of  heaven  and  the  com- 
panionship of  angels  ! 

As  the  time  drew  near  for  the  installation  of  Mr.  Walton 
over  the  church  in  Charlestown,  to  which  he  had  been  invit- 
ed, he  set  apart  the  day  previous  to  the  work  of  fasting  and 
prayer,*  "  to  seek,"  says  he,  "  the  blessing  of  God,  upon 
this  new  connection.  I  also  recommended  the  same  to  the 
members  of  the  congregation,  not  as  a  public,  but  a  private 
thing  ;  that  every  one  who  feels  the  importance  of  the  con- 
nexion, and  desires  the  blessing  of  God  upon  His  ordinances, 
and  to  see  the  cause  of  religion  among  them  revived,  should 
unite  with  me  in  this  private  exercise." 

A  few  days  after,  he  came  near  being  killed  in  the  shock 
occasioned  by  a  horse  attached  to  a  water  car,  which,  rush- 
ino-  from  a  cross  street,  dashed  furiously  against  the  animal 
he  was  driving,  but  only  to  show  that  a  kind  Providence 
still  preserved  him  to  write  as  follows :  "  On  Wednesday, 
lfith  inst,  I  was  installed  Pastor  of  the  congregation  in 
Charlestown.  1  felt  no  more  on  that  day  than  I  have  done 
for  some  time,  in  view  of  this  transaction.     I  feel  as  if  I  had 

*  That  eminent  christian  minister,  Cotton  Mather,  says  to  ministers  :  "  That 
you  may  be  good  men,  and  be  mightily  inspired,  and  assisted  from  heaven  to 
do  good,  it  is  needful  that  you  should  be  men  of  prayer.  It  appears  very  neces- 
sary that  you  should  occasionally  set  apart  whole  days  for  secret  prayer  and 
fasting,  and  thus  perfume  your  studies  with  extraordinary  devotions.  Such 
exercises  may  be  also  properly  accompanied  with  the  giving  of  alms,  to  go  up 
as  a  memorial  before  the  Lord." — Essays  to  do  good. 


WILLIAM     C.    WALTON.  147 

Power  "f  niMM-.inir.o.  Synodical  fast. 


more  work  now  to  do  than  I  ever  had  in  any  other  situation. 
But  I  fed  wcouraged  in  the  Lord  my  God." 

"Nov.  26. — My  trials,  instead  of  being  removed,  appear 
to  be  increasing.  But  I  think  I  see  the  wisdom  and  the 
goodness  which  appoints  them.  I  know  that  I  need  them, 
and,  in  general,  I  have,  for  a  long  time  past,  felt  a  disposi- 
tion to  praise  the  Lord  for  such  dispensations." 

Among  these  trials  was  one  from  a  singular  source.  A 
gentleman  took  great  offence  at  being  singled  out,  as  he 
supposed,  by  the  searching  discourse  of  a  brother  who 
preached  in  Mr.  W's.  pulpit,  and  accused  Mr.  W.  of  com- 
municating to  him  a  knowledge  of  the  circumstances  of 
himself  and  family.  Mr.  W.  had  some  difficulty  in  convin- 
cing him  that  he  had  not  uttered  a  word  to  the  preacher  on 
the  subject,  and  that  he  never  employed  another  person  to 
make  remarks,  which  he  himself  feared  to  make.  The  fact 
illustrated  the  acuteness  of  the  preacher,  and  the  power  of 
conscience  in  the  hearer. 

"Dec.  17. — We  lately  observed  a  day  of  fasting  &,c, 
agreeably  to  a  recommendation  of  the  Synod.  The  exer- 
cises were,  I  trust,  profitable  to  my  soul.  I  lectured  from 
Is.  lviii.  In  studying  that  chapter,  I  obtained  clearer  views 
than  I  had  ever  had  before,  of  the  manner  in  which  a  fast 
day  should  be  observed.  I  endeavored  to  comply  literally 
with  the  requirements  of  that  chapter,  and  then  I  had  confi- 
dence in  enforcing  the  same  duties  upon  my  people.  It  led 
me  to  search  into  my  heart,  and  into  my  past  and  present 
transactions  with  my  fellow  men  ;  and  I  have  since  felt  more 
tenderly  conscientious  in  regard  to  my  dealings  ;  willino-  to 
rectify  any  thing  that  I  may  have  done  amiss,  although  it 
could  not  be  legally  demanded  of  me  ;  and  such  a  dread  of 
every  thing  like  injustice  and  oppression,  that  I  have  felt 
afraid  of  having  any  thing  to  do  with  the  world,  lest  I  should, 
without  intending  it,  do  my  fellow  men  an  injury.  I  feel 
that  what  God  has  spoken  on  these  subjects  has  a  decisive 
and  strong  influence  upon  me.  I  fear  God ;  I  desire 
above  all  things  to  do  those  things  that  are  pleasing  in  His 
sight." 


148  MEMOIR     OF    WALTON. 

Various  rudcavors  to  do  good  to  himself  and  others. 


"  I  have  lately  been  reading  Massillon's  charges  to  the 
clergy  of  his  Diocese.  They  have  given  me  more  correct 
views  of  the  exulted  character  1  ought  to  sustain  as  a  min- 
ister of  the  gospel,  than  I  had  before,  and  determined  me  to 
keep  the  world  at  as  great  a  distance  as  possible." 

"Bethany,  Dec.  25. — 1  have  spent  a  pari  of  this  morning 
in  reviewing  the  Lord's  dealings  with  me.  It  is  a  profitable 
exercise;  it  is  humbling!  '*  's  comforting;  it  is  strength- 
ening; it  gives  me  a  distinct  and  impressive  conviction  of 
mv  infinite  obligations;  it  excites  some  feelings  of  grati- 
tude, though,  alas!  very  inadequate,  and  determines  ine  to 
live,  not  to  myself,  but  unto  Him  who  died  for  me.  I  feel 
that  my  great  object  is  to  glorify  God  and  to  do  the  great- 
est amount  of  good  that  can  be  accomplished  with  the  talents 
He  has  given  me." 

"I  have  lately  prayed  more  with  my  children,  than  I  had 
done  before,  and  they  seem  deeply  interested  in  the  exer- 
cise, and  sometimes  they  ask  me  to  pray  with  them  and  for 
them." 

"  I  have  had  several  opportunities  lately  of  combat!  ing 
certain  antinomian  errors  that  many  christians  hold,  and  1 
hope  good  has  been  done.  Some  with  whom  I  conversed, 
appeared  to  be  deeply  impressed  with  the  importance  of  my 
views  on  those  subjects,  which  were  evidently  entirely  new 
to  them,  and  they  expressed  a  wish  that  these  views  might 
be  extensively  made  known." 


CHAPTER     IX 


Benefits  of  prayer.  Growing  in  grace. 


"  When  one  who  holds  communion  with  the  skies, 
lias  filled  his  urn  where  those  pure  waters  rise, 
And  once  more  mingles  with  us  meaner  things, 
"i'is  e'en  as  if  an  angel  shook  his  wings  ; 
Immortal  fragrance  lills  the  circuit  wide, 
That  tells  us  whence  his  treasures  are  supplied." 

"  I  love  prayer,"  said  one  who  practised  it  much.  "  It 
is  that  which  buckles  on  all  the  Christian's  armor.  What 
incomes  of  grace,  and  peace,  and  glory,  yea,  and  outward 
good  things,  as  far  as  they  are  indeed  good  for  us,  have  we 
by  our  access  to  God  in  Christ !  Such  a  companion  ready 
in  all  their  solitudes;  a  counsellor  in  all  their  doubts:  a 
comforter  in  all  their  sorrows ;  a  supply  in  all  their  wants  ; 
a  support  underneath  their  burthens  ;  a  shelter  in  all  their 
dangers  ;  strength  for  all  their  performances  ;  and  salvation 
insured  by  a  sweet  and  undeceiving  earnest.  What  is 
heaven,  but  an  everlasting  access  to  God  ?  and  present  access 
is  a  pledge  of  it." 

In  the  review  of  the  year  1S25,  Mr.  "Walton  found  that  he 
had  obtained  clearer  views  of  truth.  Divine  truth  was  more 
precious  than  ever.  The  plan  of  salvation  was  continually 
revealing  new  beauties.  Affliction  had  drawn  him  near  to 
God,  and  it  was  evident  he  had  grown  both  in  knowledge 
and  in  grace.  lie  had  tried  the  power  of  prayer,  and  it 
13* 


1 50  MEMOIR     OF 


Grow*  in  ministerial  power.  Antidote  to  melancholy. 

abided  the  test.  His  preaching  was  marked  with  more  per- 
spicuity, pungency,  and  strength.  His  sensibilities  as  a 
minister  seemed  to  prevail  over  liis  sensibilities  as  a  man  ; 
his  anxiety  for  souls  to  absorb  the  inferior  anxiety,  so  often 
exacted  by  the  ordinary  concerns  of  this  life. 

"Jan.  5,  18*20. — My  trials  and  cares  have  been  greater 
than  in  any  former  year.  But  I  never  enjoyed  so  much 
consolation — never  was  so  uniformly  cheerful.  1  have  sel- 
dom felt,  even  for  an  hour,  any  thing  like  those  sinking 
spells  which  formerly  embittered  my  life;  and  I  can  bear  my 
testimony  to  this  truth,  that  nothing  is  so  effectual  an  anti- 
dote against  melancholy,  as  to  be  fully  and  actively  engaged 
in  doing  what  we  know  God  approves,  with  a  view  to  His 
glory." 

"During  the  past  year,  a  number  of  souls  in  Charlestown 
have,  I  trust,  been  born  again.  Some  as  the  fruits  of  our 
labors  in  the  neighborhood.  Also,  I  have  heard  of  good 
done  by  means  of  my  pamphlet,*  and  of  one  who  is  now  in 
the  ministry  among  the  Methodists,  who  was  converted,  as 
he  thinks,  under  my  ministry  in  Charlestown  years  ago." 

"  I  must  not  fail  to  record  that  I  feel  more  weaned  from 
the  world,  and  less  under  the  influence  of  certain  tempta- 
tions, which  formerly  often  prevailed  over  me.  I  feel  a 
more  disinterested  concern  to  glorify  God  and  to  advance 
His  cause.  I  have  more  satisfactory  views  of  Christ,  and 
more  of  His  love  than  I  formerly  had  ;  and  I  trust  also,  a 
deeper  sense  of  the  evil  of  sin  and  of  my  vileness  as  a  sin- 
ner. I  feel  convinced  that  I  should  be  under  infinite  obli- 
gations to  thank  and  love  God  forwhttt  lit  has  already  dune 
for  me,  and  for  our  guilty  world,  it'  He  should  now  cut  me 
off,  and  send  me  to  hell  for  my  sins.  He  has  indeed  done 
great,  unspeakably  great  things  for  my  soul,  for  which  I 
know  I  must  be  forever  indebted  to  Him." 

"  I  find  a  considerable  difference  in  myself  from  what  I 
formerly  was  in  these  respects  :  that  1  am  not  so  easily  irrit- 
ated, and  I  have  more  command  over  my  words,  and  am  less 
apt  to  utter  any  thing  rashly  when  irritated.  I  feel  also 
more  tenderly  conscientious  in  regard  to  the  manner  in 


On  the  Revival  in  Baltimore. 


WILLIAM     C.     WALTON.  151 

Solicitude  for  tbe  cause  of  Christ.  Conversion  of  a  youth. 

which  I  speak  to  all  the  members  of  tny  family,  and  to  all 
with  whom  I  have  to  do.  Oh!  that  the  Lord  may  forgive 
all  my  past  sins — perfect  what  is  lacking  in  me,  and  cher- 
ish my  soul  with  His  grace." 

"Jan.  11. — I  visited,  conversed  and  prayed  with  a  little 

boy  at  W.  H 's,  who  is  near  his  end  in  a  consumption, 

and  felt  inclined  to  pray  for  him  and  for  the  family  after 
returning  home." 

"  I  took  my  little  son  to  the  grave  of  his  sister." 

"I  have  lately  felt  an  increasing  concern  that  the  Lord 
may  preserve  me  from  evtrij  thing  that  might  lessen  my 
influence  among  my  neighbors,  or  give  any  an  unfavorable 
opinion  of  religion.'' 

"  I  have  also  several  times  felt  a  strong  impression  upon 
my  mind  that  the  Lord  will  enable  me  to  die  in  joy  and  tri- 
umph. The  thoughts  of  death  have  lately  been  more  pleas- 
ing than  ever.  But  still  I  feel  a  strong  desire  to  do  a  great 
deal  for  the  advancement  of  the  cause  of  Christ  while  I  live." 

"  Feb.  12. — Last  night  while  viewing  the  heavens,  which 
declare  the  glory  of  God,  I  had  a  more  exalted  view  of  His 
character  than  I  ever  had,  and  was  unusually  affected  by 
the  consideration  of  the  Saviour's  voluntary  humiliation, 
suffering,  and  death.  I  never  read  the  bible  with  so  much 
interest.  I  had  thought  of  reading  another  book,  but  I  felt 
as  if  I  could  take  no  interest  in  it." 

Speaking  of  a  young  man  who  owed  his  salvation,  under 
God,  to  his  faithfulness,  and  who  desired  to  take  part  in 
the  same  ministry,  he  records  under  date 

"  Feb.  '20. — On  Saturday  evening  I  had  a  conversation 
with  him,  in  which  I  received  much  satisfaction.  He 
ascribes  his  conversion  to  my  ministry  :  is  strongly  attached 
to  our  Church,  and  greatly  prefers  obtaining  an  education 
with  us.  He  appears  to  be  a  youth  of  superior  talents  and 
of  great  promise.  I  made  him  an  offer  of  a  place  in  our 
institution,  which  he  readily  accepted.  For  this  event  I 
desire  to  be  unfeignedly  thankful.  There  are  several 
things  peculiarly  encouraging  to  me,  and  if  I  am  spared,  I 
shall  take  great  pleasure  in  cultivating  the  mind  of  one,  who 
promises  to  be  so  very  useful  in  the  Church  of  Christ." 

"  April  15. — I  have  reason  to  entertain  the  hope  that  my 


152 


MEMOIR     OF 


Journey  to  the  Natch.  Memoir  of  Margaret  Ann. 

labors  in  preaching,  and  in  conversation  while  at  Gerrards- 
town  were  useful,  particularly  in  imparting  righl  views  of 
some  important  truths  to  two  young  brethren  in  the  minis- 
try, and  one  who  is  preparing  for  it.  This  is  a  method  of 
doing  good  which  1  regard  as  vastly  important." 

"Sabbath  eve.,  April  '.24. — Administered  the  sacrament 

of  the  Lord's  Supper  to-day.     Brother  preached,  and 

preached  much  too  long  so  as  to  leave  but  little  time  for  the 
other  exercises ;  and  1  always  feel  very  unpleasantly  to  be 
pressed  for  time,  when  such  duties  are  to  be  performed. 
On  the  whole,  it  was  by  no  means  a  comfortable  day  to  me. 
I  was  not  well  and  felt  uncommonly  stupid.  But  since  I 
returned  home,  have  had  a  sweet  season  of  enlargement  at 
the  throne  of  grace,  while  trying  to  humble  myself  before 
God,  and  to  seek  his  blessing.  My  mind  lias  of  late  been 
often  impressed  with  a  sense  of  the  greatness  of  God's 
mercy  and  forbearance  towards  me,  considering  how  great, 
and  how  numerous,  and  how  provoking  my  sins  have 
been." 

In  June  of  this  year,  Mr.  Walton  with  a  part  of  his 
family,  visited  Washington,  Baltimore,  and  Philadelphia. 
He  speaks  of  the  kindness  and  hospitality  manifested  to 
them,  by  "  many  friends,"  which  was  repaid,  as  might  have 
been  expected  from  such  an  one,  in  '  spiritual  things.' 
Wherever  he  was,  it  was  never  in  his  heart  to  trifle,  but 
always  to  be  useful.  He  "  naturally  cared  lor  the  state" 
of  every  soul  with  whom  he  came  in  contact.  Of  this  visit 
he  says: 

"  I  hope  T  u  as  made  instrumental  in  doing  some  rrood ;  par- 
ticularly in  Washington  City,  where,  before  we  left  it,  there 
was  a  prospect,  and  to  all  appearance  the  beginning  of  a  revi- 
val. I  was  enabled  to  accomplish  my  main  object — the  publi- 
cation of  my  little  hook — on  as  (rood  terms,  and  quite  as  much 
to  my  satisfaction  as  1  expected.  It  has  already  been  very 
favorably  noticed  in  the  Philadelphian — audi  was  informed 
of  a  little  girl  in  Baltimore  now  hopefully  pious,  who  was 
awakened  by  hearing  the  obituary  of  my  dear  little  daugh- 
ter read.  Blessed  be  God  for  this  mercy  !  I  have  also 
received  the  pleasing  intelligence  that  my  pamphlet,  besides 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  1 53 

Repeated  editions  ol  bis  Narrative.  Oberlin.  Elliot. 


being  re-published  in  the  Utic;i  Repository,   is  now  going 
through  the  third  edition  in  Utica.     There  are  and  have 
been  many  revivals  in  thai  region.     But  what  influen 
pamphlet  has  had,  1  know*  not.     When  I  sent  it  forth  to  the 

world,  il  w;is  with  many  prayers  for  a  Divine  blessing  to 
attend  it,  and  make  it  extensively  useful ;  and  now  I  think  1 
can  see,  in  some  measure,  an  answer  to  these  prayers.  In 
the  same  manner  have  I  sent  forth  my  little  book — the 
monument  of  my  dear  child's  piety  and  intelligence,  and 
the  record  of  God's  merciful  dealings  with  her." 

"I  have  lately  met  with  two  more  opportunities  of  ex- 
plaining some  important  points  of  doctrine,  not  generally 
understood,  to  young  ministers.  Their  minds  appeared 
to  he  open  to  conviction.  The  result  is  with  the  Lord.  1 
trust  He  is  increasing  my  influence  among  my  brethren  in 
the  ministry,  and  that  He  will  enable  me  to  improve  it  to 
his  glory  and  the  advancement  of  his  cause." 

"  We  have  had  a  long  and  very  extensive  drought,  during 
which  time  I  was  much  impressed  with  the  duty  of  praying 
for  rain,  and  publicly  acknowledging  God  as  the  Giver  of  this 
blessing.  At  length  our  earth  has  been  thoroughly  wetted 
by  the  showers  of  Heaven,  and  we  have  the  prospect  of  a 
plenty  of  corn  and  vegetables.  Since  yesterday  I  have 
labored  under  great  depression  of  spirits.  May  the  Lord 
support  me  in  these  seasons  of  trial,  and  preserve  me  from 
sinning  against  Him." 

This  year  was  spent  in  the  usual  routine  of  pastoral 
duties,  and  in  nursing  his  institution,  which  still  maintained 
a  feeble  existence.  But  it  was  impossible  for  him  not  to  be 
active  in  some  way.  And  with  such  a  spirit,  a  man  must 
be  useful.  Oberlin  chose  the  most  desolate  field  that  pre- 
sented itself  to  the  eye,  and  converted  it  into  a  moral  gar- 
den, thus  verifying  the  declaration  of  John  Elliot,  that 
"  prayer  and  pains-taking,  with  faith  in  God  will  accom- 
plish every  thing."  Some  men,  without  this  spirit  of  heav- 
en-born benevolence,  would  convert  a  garden  into  a  desert. 
Such  is  the  energy  of  vital  piety.  It  is  the  most  powerful 
principle  in   the  world,   and  is  destined  under  God,  with 


164  MEMOIR     OF 

Abundant  labors. 


whom  are  '  the  times  and  the  seasons,'   to  accomplish  the 
conversion  of  the  world. 

Walton  went  forth  and  attended  B  scries  of  meetings  at 
Shepherdstown  in  the  month  of  November,  which  were 
crowned  with  the  divine  blessing.  Under  date  Nov.  12,  be 
writes  : 

"At  the  meeting  above  referred  to,  there  is  reason 
to  hope  much  good  was  done.  On  Sabbath  evening,  at 
the  closing  service,  the  people  would  hardly  leave  the 
Church  at  nearly  11  o'clock.  Three  professed  to  submit; 
and  I  have  since  heard  of  ten  in  all  who  appeared  to  be 
awakened.  About  the  last  of  August  and  first  part  of  the 
month  of  September,  we  had  another  meeting  of  four  days 
continuance  at  Bloomery  mills — I  was  left  alone  from  Satur- 
day morning.  On  Sabbath  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's 
supper  was  administered;  a  larger  collection  of  people  than 
were  ever  seen  at  the  place  before — service  out  of  doors — 
great  order  and  stillness  observed  ;  much  attention  and  con- 
siderable weeping.  One  man  obtained  a  hope — a  very 
remarkable  conversion — the  narrative  of  which  is  deeply 
interesting.  I  then  went  up  to  Romney  and  Moorefield 
and  Petersburg,  at  all  of  which  places  I  preached  with 
much  freedom  and  enlargement  of  soul.  At  Moorefield 
one  young  woman  professed  to  submit; — at  Petersburg, 
three; — in  the  neighborhood  of  Vanmeters,  two." 

"  On  my  return  from  Romney,  I  began  to  feel  the  effects 
of  my  exertions;  having  preached  sixteen  times,  and 
administered  the  Lord's  supper  twice,  in  about  ten  days ; 
when  I  arrived  at  home,  I  found  my  children  sick — one  had 
been  very  ill ;  I  rested  but  little  ;  tarried  only  one  day  at 
home — having  an  appointment  at  Smithfield  for  a  two  days' 
meeting.  Preached  twice  at  Smithfield  in  much  weakness 
on  Saturday,  and  that  night  was  taken  with  a  bilious  colic 
— was  sent  to  Charlestown  next  day,  where  I  was  confined 
for  a  week."  Was  there  ever  any  maxim  more  pernicious 
than  that,  which  has  been  so  current  among  the  best  of 
people,  "it  is  better  to  wear  out  than  to  rust  out?"     It  is 


WILLIAM    C  . 

WALTON.                           155 

Weiring  out  iinil  rust i n;j  out. 

The  Belf-Mcriflclng  preachers. 

indeed  true,  when  rightly  understood  and  judiciously  appli- 
ed, but  unhappily  it  has  been  perverted  to  sanction  the 
most  rash  and  unjustifiable  expenditure  of  constitutional 
vigor  and  of  human  life,  till  Humanity  and  Christianity 
have  blended  their  tears  over  the  costly  sacrifices  made  on 
this  altar.  As  if  a  devoted  Christian  minister  or  missionary 
was  not  bound  to  obey  the  laws  and  the  calls  of  nature  ! 
In  proportion  to  his  piety  and  zeal,  is  to  be  the  run  on  his 
constitution,  till — its  powers  exhausted — he  sinks  from  the 
midst  of  usefulness  into  a  premature  grave,  and  gains  the 
honors  of  a  martyr,  when  he  has  actually  hastened  his  own 
end !  "* 

Let  Swartz  and  Carey  be  praised  for  husbanding  their 
inestimable  lives,  as  well  as  Brainerd  and  Martyn,  (blessed 
be  their  memory,)  for  toasting  their's.  Let  Mcllvaine  and 
Nevins  receive  the  meed  of  commendation  for  watching 
over  their  health,  and  perpetuating  their  usefulness,  long 
after  their  friends  Lamed  and  Summerfield  had  sacrificed 
their  lives  to  their  enthusiasm  for  preaching  the  gospel. t 
The  last  text  of  Lamed,  one  of  the  most  eloquent  preachers 
this  country  ever  produced,  was  this:  '  For  me  to  live  is 
Christ,  and  to  die  is  gain.'  That  same  week,  the  precious 
youth,  with  whom  the  writer  passed  the  days  of  his  boy- 
hood, died  at  the  age  of  twenty-four.  Every  leaf  in  his 
well-earned  chaplet  was  as  green  as  when  it  was  first  wound 
around  his  brow. 


*  The  author  of  the  Life  ofLegh  Richmond,  who  was  another  victim  of  over-strain- 
ed effort,  remarks,  that  such  conduct  "  is  little  better  than  moral  suicide.  Good  men 
should  submit  to  the  rein  for  conscience'  sake." 

t  Said  one  of  these  self  immolated  ministers  once  to  a  Divinity  student,  "  A  merci- 
ful man  regardeth  the  life  of  his  beast,  and  you  must  be  merciful  to  your  beast,  or  as 
Mr.  M.  would  say.  to  your  '  animal.'  Remember  that  it  is  your  Master's  property, 
and  he  will  no  more  thank  you  for  driving  it  to  death,  than  an  earthly  master  would 
thank  a  servant  for  riding  a  valuable  horse  to  death,  under  pretence  of  zeal  for  his 
interest.  The  truth  is,  1  am  afraid  Satan  has  jumped  into  the  saddle,  and  when  he  is 
there,  in  the  guise  of  an  angel  of  light,  he  whips  and  spurs  at  a  most  unmerciful  rate 
as  every  joint  in  my  poor  broken-winded  animal  can  testily,  from  woful  experience! 
He  has  temptations  for  the  conscience,  as  Mr.  Newton  well  observes  ;  and  when  other 
temptations  fail,  he  makes  great  use  of  them.'' 


156  MEMOIR     OP 


Delightful  views  in  rickneaa 


To  return.  Afosi  of  Mr.  Walton's  family  were  laid  low 
with  sickness,  yet  without  such  immediate  danger  as  to  pre- 
vent him  from  attending  the  meeting  of  the  Presbytery. 

"  I  ventured  to  go  to  Gerranlstown,  where  it  was  sitting, 
on  Saturday  morning.  The  ride  was  too  much  for  me.  I 
was  thrown  into  a  fever,  which  continued  with  some  inter- 
mission all  the  time  I  was  there.  I  however  attended  in 
great  weakness.  On  Tuesday  I  rode  to  Charlestown,  and 
had  not  been  there  more  than  an  hour,  before  I  was  laid 
upon  a  sick  bed,  from  which  I  did  not  rise  for  four  weeks; 
my  confinement  lasted  five  weeks.  During  this  time,  more 
of  my  family  were  sick,  and  my  mother  died  !  Thus  it 
pleases  the  Lord  to  keep  me  under  the  rod ;  but  blessed  be 
His  name,  He  has  made  this  and  other  like  seasons  of 
affliction,  occasions  for  richer  displays  of  mercy  than  ordi- 
nary circumstances  would  even  allow.  The  spiritual  good 
which  I  trust  He  has  imparted  to  me  by  means  of  these 
trials,  is  such  as  greatly  to  overbalance  any  sufferings  I 
have  experienced,  and  I  have  been  enabled  to  praise  Him 
for  these  substantial  tokens  of  his  care  and  mercy  to  my 
soul,  and  to  the  souls  of  my  family.  During  my  illness,  I 
was  often  inclined  to  think  1  should  not  recover  ;  this  im- 
pression was  very  strong  on  the  Saturday  which  was  the 
anniversary  of  my  dear  little  daughter's  death.  On  that 
day,  after  some  severe  conflicts,  T  had  some  of  the  most 
delightful  views  and  feelings  that  1  ever  hid.  I  could 
hardly  restrain  my  feelings  from  such  a  degree  of  excite- 
ment, as  would  probably  have  been  unfavorable  to  my  recov- 
ery. They  commenced  with  the  thought  of  my  Saviour's 
sufferings  for  me.  Oh,  it  was  indeed  a  time  of  sweet 
refreshing  to  my  soul.'' 

"  Dec.  14. — Last  Sabbath  preached  and  administered  the 
Lord's  Supper  at  Bloomery  mills  in  Hampshire.  The  people 
of  that  congregation  expressed  so  strong  a  desire  for  my  ser- 
vices, that  the  Presbytery  passed  an  order  that  I  should  sup- 
ply them  at  discretion.  They  receive  me  with  almost  as 
much  affection  as  the  Galatians  received  the  Apostle  Paul, 
and  my  ministry  appears  to  have  been  blessed  to  them. 
Christians  professed  to  be  strengthened  and  edified,  and  I 
hear  of  some  careless  persons  awakened  and  affected — two 
united    in   communion    last   Sabbath — one   of   whom  was 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  1  i)7 

Deprawed,  but  labor) j.  Trials  from  the  wicked. 

brought  Milder  conviction  and  obtained  a  hope  in  September 
last,  when  I  administered  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's 
Supper  at  that  place.  His  experience  appears  to  be  as 
genuine  and  as  remarkable  as  that  of  any  person  I  have 
ever  known." 

"Sabbath  day,  Dec. 24. — The  uncertainty  I  have  felt  as 
to  the  prospects  of  the  Institution,  and  as  to  the  course 
which  J  ought  to  pursue,  has  preyed  of  late  more  upon 
my  spirit s  than  it  ought  to  have  done.  I  have  often  been 
considerably  depressed.  1  feel  that  this  world  is  not  my 
rest.  There  is  very  little  in  it  that  affords  me  any  enjoy- 
ment." 

"I  often  feel  the  want  of  some  judicious,  warm-hearted 
brother  of  right  views  to  consult  with,  and  to  encourage 
me,  and  strengthen  my  hands.  But  alas !  I  have  not  one, 
to  whom  I  can  freely  un'nosom  myself.  I  want  one  at 
least,  whom  I  can  love  as  Jonathan  loved  David,  and  who 
will  love  me  as  David  loved  Jonathan.  May  the  Lord  raise 
me  up  such  a  brother!  And  in  the  meantime  draw  me 
nearer  to  Himself! " 

With  the  opening  of  the  year  1827,  the  pleasures  of 
health  began  to  return  to  Mr.  Walton.  For  two  years  he 
had  not  been  so  well,  but  still  felt  depressed  in  spirits,  "  on 
account  of  my  unfaithfulness,  and  by  seeing  how  little  I 
am  doing  for  the  advancement  of  Christ's  kingdom." 

He  was  still,  however,  laboring  in  the  surrounding  region, 
through  storms  and  cold,  and  many  obstacles,  to  win  sinners 
to  Christ.  Having  to  transact  some  business  with  a  man, 
not  distinguished  either  for  sweetness  of  temper,  or  amenity 
of  manners,  he  encountered  in  his  rude  and  savage  conduct 
the  severest  trial  of  the  kind,  which  ever  fell  to  his  lot. 
With  many  oaths  and  threats  he  ordered  this  mildest  of  men 
out  of  his  house.  All  these  indignities  he  received  with 
the  meekness  of  a  lamb,  and  the  forgiving  spirit  of  a  ser- 
vant of  Him,  who  '  when  he  was  reviled,  reviled  not  again, 
when  he  suffered,  he  threatened  not,  but  committed  himself 
to  Him  that  judgeth  righteously.'  '  The  servant  of  the 
Lord  must  not  strive,  but  be  gentle  unto  all  men.'  When 
14 


158 

MEMOIR 

O  F 

Anecdote  of  John  Howe. 

The  Princeton  student. 

the  eminent  and  pious  John  Howe  heard  a  nobleman 
swear  profanely  in  St.  James1  Park,  he  faithfully  reproved 
him:  "My  Lord,  the  greal  Rider  of  the  world  among 
other  things,  has  declared  that  He  will  make  a  difference 
between  him  that  Bweareth  and  him  that  feareth  an  oath." 
"  Sir,"  replied  the  nobleman,  "  1  thank  you*  for  your  free- 
dom, and  take  your  meaning,  and  shall  endeavor  to  make  a 
good  use  of  it."  "  My  Lord,"  rejoined  the  kind-hearted 
divine,  "  I  have  a  great  deal  more  reason  to  thank  your 
lordship  for  saving  me  the  most  difficult  part  of  a  discourse, 
which  is  the  application." 

"  I  came  home  deeply  affected  by  the  occurrence,  and 
layed  my  complaint  before  the  Lord,  and  prayed  that  He 
would  have  mercy  on  that  man  and  turn  his  heart.  I  feel 
entirely  confident  that  I  did  not  use  any  improper  language 
— or  in  an  irritating  manner;  indeed  I  was  silent  nearly  all 
the  time  while  he  was  raving  as  he  did.  When  I  look 
back  upon  it,  it  appears  a  matter  of  surprise  that  his  hands 
were  1  ept  olf  me.  I  believe  it  was  in  his  heart  to  beat  me 
to  almost  any  extent.  I  am  not,  however,  conscious  of  any 
feelings  of  resentment." 

"It  is  one  of  the  most  torturing  trials  I  have  ever  expe- 
rienced. I  pray  and  earnestly  desire  that  it  may  be  sancti- 
fied to  me.  I  have  lately  been  praying  that  the  Lord  would 
employ  any  means  which  lie  might  see  best  to  carry  on  his 
work  of  grace  in  my  soul,  and  to  lit  me  for  usefulness,  and 
perhaps  this  is  an  answer  to  that  prayer.  I  desire  still  to 
be  in  the  hands  of  the  Lord,  and  can  say,  '  though  He  slay 
mc,  yet  will  I  trust  in  Him.'  I  am  now  sick  of  dealing  with 
the  world.  If  it  were  the  will  of  the  Lord,  I  should  rejoice 
to  have  nothing  to  do  with  it,  but  to  labor  for  its  salvation." 

"  These  things,  together  with  the  discouraging  state  of 
things  in  most  of  the  neighboring  Churches,  and  the  many 
trials  and  discouragements  arising  from  all  my  attempts  to 
do  good — especially  for  the  Institution,  have   weaned  me 

*  A  Theological  student  in  travelling  from  Princeton  to  Albany,  having  resolved 
laitbiully  to  reprove  every  man  whom  be  should  hear  Bwear,  by  the  time  he  reached 
the  latter  place,  had  rcprovrd  twenty-five  individuals,  all  of  whom  with  one  exception 
received  the  reproofs  respectfully,  some  in  silence,  and  some  with  tears. 


WILLIAM     C.    WALTON.  159 


Visit  to  Leuslmrg. 


from  the  world  to  a  surprising  degree.     I  see  almost  noth- 
ing in  any  direction,  that  appears  pleasing  and  encouraging, 

or  calculated  to  create  a  desire  to  live  in  this  world." 

In  the  spring  of  this  year  Mr.  Walton  visited  Leeshurg, 
where  he  had  been  before,  and  as  usual  found  something  to 
do  for  his  Lord  and  Master.  It  was  a  luxury  with  him, 
always,  if  possible,  to  '  impart  some  spiritual  gift;'  and  'not 
the  Gospel  of  God  only,  but  his  own  soul  '  has  he  often 
seemed  ready  to  impart  to  the  immortal  beings,  of  whom  he 
was  '  affectionately  desirous.' 

"  March  G. — While  at  Leesburg,  I  labored  a  good  deal  and 
with  much  encouragement.  I  saw  much  reason  to  believe 
that  my  labors,  when  1  was  last  at  that  place,  had  been  blest, 
particularly  in  exciting  a  spirit  of  prayer  among  Christians  ; 
the  older  members  had  received  a  fresh  impulse,  and  the 
young  ones  had  commenced  another  prayer  meeting. 
Although  1  was  assisted  in  an  unusual  degree,  yet  I  never 
was  more  sensible  of  the  sinful  imperfections  attending  my 
services.  I  was  much  annoyed  by  temptations  to  pride  and 
self-importance.  I  believe,  however,  that  I  did  not  yield  so 
far  as  to  make  it  visible  to  the  eye  of  man." 

"  April  1. — A  few  days  ago  I  received  a  letter  from  Lees- 
burg, earnestly  requesting  me  to  go  down,  stating  that  a  con- 
siderable excitement  had  followed  our  last  monthly  meeting, 
and  that  now  the  Methodist  brethren  were  reaping  the 
fruits,  as  there  was  no  regular  Presbyterian  preaching  at  that 
place.  My  engagements,  however,  are  such  as  to  prevent 
me  from  going  down  immediately.  The  news  is  encour- 
aging, and  if  all  who  were  then  awakened  become  Christ- 
ians, and  many  more  besides  join  the  Methodist  Church,  I 
rejoice,  yea,  and  will  rejoice.  I  was  also  much  encouraged 
by  my  last  visit  to  Bloomery  mills.  The  people  turn  out 
uncommonly  well,  particularly  at  night.  Our  extra  exerci- 
ses, after  the  regular  routine  is  over,  and  the  people  are 
dismissed,  appear  to  be  attended  with  the  greatest  blessing ; 
that  is,  more  appears  to  be  done  in  this  way  than  in  any 
other.  It  has  the  effect  of  awakening  sinners,  much  more 
than  preaching  in  the  usual  way.  It  is  preaching,  that  is, 
exhorting  sinners  to  save  themselves  from  this  untoward  gen- 


ICO  MEMOIR     OF 


Importance  of  a  change  of  location.  Call  from  Alexandria. 

eration, — but  it  is  so  much  out  of  the  common  course  of 
things,  that  it  awakens  attention,  when  in  all  probability  no 
such  effect  would  be  produced  by  proceeding  in  the  old 
beaten  track.  Whatever  is  the  instrumental  cause,  how- 
ever, I  am  fully  sensible  that  the  work  is  the  Lord's,  and  to 
Him  belongs  all  the  glory  of  it.  If  I  have  a  heart  to  labor 
with  more  earnestness  than  I  formerly  did,  to  Him  1  am 
indebted  for  it,  and  so  far  from  having  any  cause  of  boast- 
ing, I  am  laid  under  additional  obligations  to  employ  all  my 
time  and  talents  to  his  honor  and  glory." 

The  question  of  a  change  of  location  is  at  all  times  a 
very  serious  one  with  a  conscientious  minister  of  Christ. 
How  diligent  a  student,  how  skilful  an  interpreter  of  the 
will  of  Divine  Providence  does  he  need  to  be  !  On  the 
one  hand,  it  becomes  him  to  guard  against  the  rashness  of 
1  running  before  he  is  sent ; '  on  the  other,  against  too  obsti- 
nate a  reluctance  to  leave  those  scenes  and  associations, 
which  have  been  endeared  to  him  by  the  events  of  a  delight- 
ful and  successful  ministry,  for  the  purpose  of  laboring  in 
a  new  field,  to  which  duty  seems  to  call. 

In  the  month  of  March,  Mr.  Walton  received  a  request 
from  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church,  in  Alexandria,  D.  C. 
to  visit  them  with  a  view  to  the  contingency  of  a  mutual 
union.  His  remark  on  receiving  this  request  is  characteris- 
tic : 

"  Although  a  removal  to  any  other  situation  would  be 
attended  with  great  trouble,  and  perhaps  some  temporal 
sacrifices :  yet  I  feel  prepared  to  go  wherever  the  path  of 
duty  may  be  made  plain,  and  wherever  the  Lord  may  point 
out  the  sphere  of  my  future  operations." 

"  Friday,  April  5. — Last  night  I  proposed  to  my  family 
to  set  apart  this  day  as  a  fast,  that  we  might  seek  the  Divine 
guidance  in  reference  to  the  change  which  it  seems  necessa- 
ry to  make  in  our  situation,  and  the  Divine  blessing  upon 
our  souls,  our  family,  our  Institution,  and  our  Church.  I 
trust  I  have  been  assisted  in  calling  upon  the  Lord  this 
morning.     And  I  feel  confident  that  if  we  trust  and  fear 


WILLIAM     C.WALTON.  101 

Reasons  for  his  acceptance  of  the  call. 

Him,  He  will  '  guide  us  with  his  eye.'  I  have  n  deep  sense 
of  the  responsibility  under  which  1  am  acting,  and  of  the 
importance  of  coming  to  the  right  decision  in  the  great 
question,  soon  to  be  decided — respecting  a  removal  from 
Bethany.  I  feel  my  utter  incompetency  to  direct  my  own 
steps,  and  desire  to  put  myself  into  the  hands  of  God  to  be 
directed  by  Him.  I  feel  sensibly  encouraged  and  comforted 
by  his  promises  in  reference  to  this  subject." 

At  length  after  solemn  deliberation,  consultation,  and 
prayer,  he  determined,  in  view  of  all  the  circumstances,  to 
accept  the  call.  On  the  eleventh  of  May,  1827,  he  arrived  in 
Alexandria,  for  the  purpose  of  entering  on  his  new  charge. 

Under  date  May  25,  he  says,  "  There  was  much  to  induce 
me  to  come  to  this  place — a  unanimous  call  of  the  Church 
— the  strong  desire  of  brother  Andrews  that  I  should  suc- 
ceed him,  expressing  to  the  congregation  his  entire  confi- 
dence in  me,  and  how  much  relief  his  mind  felt  in  the  pros- 
pect of  my  taking  charge  of  his  people ;  a  hope  almost 
amounting  to  confidence,  that  if  I  came  to  this  place,  and 
was  enabled  to  labor  in  the  right  way,  we  should  be  blest 
with  a  revival  which  would  build  up  a  congregation  that 
had  been  long  in  a  declining  state,  while  it  might  exert  a 
salutary  influence  upon  the  interests  of  the  Church,  per- 
haps throughout  the  whole  district.  Brother  Post  and 
Baker  expressed  a  strong  desire  that  I  should  cast  in  my 
lot  among  them.  Seeing  no  possibility  of  getting  along 
with  the  Institution,  and  the  way  being  open  for  me  honor- 
ably to  relinquish  it ;  having  gone  to  the  ne  plus  ultra  of  the 
enterprise;  and  finally,  the  prospect  of  enjoying  better 
health  than  we  had  enjoyed  for  the  last  two  years — these, 
with  other  subordinate  considerations,  determined  me  to 
come  to  this  place.  When  I  first  thought  of  giving  up  the 
Institution,  it  appeared  like  burying  a  member  of  my  family  ; 
but  the  sickness  we  had  all  experienced  at  Bethany,  occa- 
sioning so  much  distress  in  the  family,  and  so  much  inter- 
ruption to  the  studies  of  the  young  men ;  and  withal^ 
14* 


1G2 

MEMOIR    OF 

installation  at  Alexandria. 

Active  labors. 

having  so  little  assistance  in  prosecuting  the  arduous  under- 
taking, it  appeared  to  be  my  duty  to  give  it  up  ; — God  only 
knows  with  how  much  anxiety  to  know  the  path  of  duty, 
and  with  how  much  fear  and  trembling  lest  I  should  take 
a  wrong  step.  I  trust  it  will  appear  in  the  great  day,  that  I 
have  pursued  the  right  course  in  this  instance,  and  that  all 
these  things  have  fallen  out  to  the  furtherance  of  the  Gos- 
pel." 

On  his  way  to  Alexandria,  he  was  again  delivered  from 
threatening  danger,  and  praised  the  Lord  for  preserving 
mercy. 

He  had  been  in  delicate  health,  but  was  now  somewhat 
recovering:  — "A  few  weeks  ago,"  he  writes,  "I  had  a 
return  of  my  hemorrhage,  which  continued  for  about  ten 
days  with  some  intermission,  i.  c.  during  that  time  I  fre- 
quently threw  up  blood.  But  it  has  now  ceased,  without 
my  suspending  my  accustomed  operations  in  the  pulpit.  I 
have  had  many  and  great  cares  upon  my  mind  in  winding 
up  the  institution,  providing  for  the  young  men,  giving  up 
the  congregation  in  Charlestown,  and  arranging  all  my  tem- 
poral matters  so  as  to  enable  me  to  remove  without  leaving 
any  unsettled.  But  I  looked  daily  to  the  Lord,  and  tried  to 
cast  my  cares  and  burdens  upon  Him,  and  verily  I  believe 
he  has  heard  my  prayers  and  granted  me  the  desire  of  my 
heart.  I  have  been  supported,  and  1  hope  directed  in  the 
way  in  which  He  would  have  me  to  go." 

On  the  third  of  July,  1827,  Mr.  Walton  was  installed 
Pastor  of  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  in  Alexandria, 
vacant  by  the  resignation  of  Rev.  Mr.  Andrews.  It  may 
be  worthy  of  notice  here,  that  previously  to  this  event,  he 
had  gone  to  work  earnestly  for  his  Master,  with  his  usual 
zeal  and  directness  of  aggressive  movement,  and  I  may  add, 
with  the  usual  blessing  accompanying  his  efforts.  Begin- 
ning with  a  "  Monday,  eight  visits  ;  Tuesday,  three  visits; 
Wednesday,    seven;  Thursday,   two;    Friday,   four;"  he 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  168 

Visits  and  admissions. 

concludes  with  a  meeting  on  Friday  night,  to  seal  up  these 
efforts,  at  which  "five  professed  to  be  willing  to  give  up  all 
for  Christ.  Well  might  the  Lord's  laborious  servant  add, 
"  Much  encouraged  and  strengthened."  These  visits  were 
strictly  religious,  that  is,  made  with  the  intention  to  save 
souls,  and  not  to  pass  compliments. 

On  the  4th  of  July  he  records,  "  Last  night  I  was  installed 
pastor  of  this  church.  I  felt  in  some  measure  solemn  ;  but 
my  views  of  eternal  things  were  not  so  clear  as  they  have 
been,  and  my  heart  was  and  has  been  lately  more  insensible 
than  usual  to  the  great  motives  of  the  gospel.  I  know  I 
lament  this,  and  desire  earnestly  to  be  revived.  How  far 
this  state  of  feeling  may  result  from  indisposition  and  weak- 
ness of  body,  I  am  not  prepared  to  say.  I  think,  however, 
there  is  some  connexion.  I  have  now  a  great  charge  upon 
me — a  congregation  in  difficulties — a  family,  and  two  young 
men  preparing  for  the  gospel  ministry,  besides  my  temporal 
matters.  I  shall  try  to  divest  my  mind  as  much  as  possible 
of  all  care  and  anxiety  about  my  affairs  in  Virginia,  and 
about  my  temporal  support,  and  give  myself  wholly  to  the 
great  work  of  the  ministry.  May  the  Lord  be  with  me, 
and  bless  me,  and  help  me,  and  make  me,  unworthy  as  I 
feel  myself  to  be,  an  instrument  of  great  and  extensive  good 
to  this  part  of  His  vineyard."  The  day  after  his  installa- 
tion he  paid  seven  pastoral  visits. 

"  On  Sabbath,  I5i.li  July,  admitted  four  on  examination, 
three  on  certificate.  Session  agreed  unanimously  to  admit 
members  in  the  form  of  a  public  covenant.  Yesterday  after- 
noon had  a  conference  meeting  of  the  men  hers  of  the 
church  at  my  house.  Several  spoke,  and  no  opposition  has 
yet  been  made  to  any  of  my  plans  for  reviving  a  spirit  of 
piety  in  the  congregation." 

"Monday,  July  16. — Two  visits — Tuesday,  five — Thurs- 
day, five — Friday,  one — Saturday,  three.  Sabbath,  22d 
July,  a  number  at  church  more  than  usually  attend,  an.,  the 
number  at  the  Friday  evening  meeting  also  increased.  This 
evening  more  than  usual,  and  some  much  affected.  The 
word  appeared  to  take  effect." 


164 

MEMOIR    OP 

Sources  of  uucourageiiieui. 

Kx|  ansion  01  lis  in  i  tic!  and  heart. 

"Saturday,  July  28, — About  six  visits  this  week." 
"  Aug.  22. — Soon  after  coming  to  this  place,  I  was  ena- 
bled to  cast  off  my  Virginia  cures  and  anxieties,  and  found 
my  thoughts  and  feelings  surprisingly  flowing  in  anew  chan- 
nel. I  Boon  fell  at  home.  Have  been  laboring,  though 
with  many  lamented  infirmities  and  sins,  for  a  definite 
object — a  revival  of  religion.  All  my  sirmnns  and  exhorta- 
tions., inpublic  and  in  "private,  have  been  dint  ted  to  this  ob- 
ject. Five  persons  have  professed  to  experience  a  change, 
and  more  ire  impressed  :  some  members  of  the  church 
have  been  aroused  to  feelings  and  views  and  exercises 
new  to  them  ;  but  still  my  experience  thus  far  has  impressed 
me  more  than  ever  before  with  the  conviction  of  this  truth — 
that  God  must  do  the  work.  I  have  mare  some  of  my  best 
efforts,  but  have  not  yet  witnessed  a  revival.  I  am  now 
looking  to  the  Lord  with  more  earnestness  of  faith  for  the 
outpouring  of  His  Spirit,  than  I  ever  did  before.  I  find  my 
desires  increasing.  1  am  encouraged — I.  By  an  increase 
of  hearers.  'I.  By  the  partial  awakening  of  the  church. 
3.  By  the  awakenings  and  conversions  that  have  taken 
place.  4.  By  the  numbers  that  attend  our  prayer  meetings, 
and  5.  By  my  male  and  female  Bible  Classes.  One  of 
my  male  Bible  Class,  who  was  under  serious  impressions, 
went  to  Camp  Meeting  and  there  professed  to  give  up  his 
heart  to  the  Lord.  It  is  a  matter  of  great  thankfulness  that 
my  health  is  so  good.  I  go  through  all  my  labors  without 
much  fatigue." 

The  spirits  of  Walton,  too,  rose  with  the  supervenient 
emergency,  and  he  manifested  an  elasticity  of  thought  and 
effort,  which,  with  the  divine  blessing,  promised  good  suc- 
cess. His  intellect  and  heart  seemed  enlarged  in  public 
and  in  private.  "  The  Lord  gives  me  an  interest  and  a 
concern  in  exhibiting  His  truth,  and  a  desire  to  promote 
His  cause,  which  prevents  me  from  feeling  my  labors  to  be 
a  task  and  a  burden.  I  feel  generally  a  heart  to  the  work, 
blessed  be  God  for  it.  It  is  what  I  had  not  for  many  years; 
and  I  can  seldom  look  back  upon  those  years  without  a 
mixture  of  sorrow  and  rejoicing;  sorrow  that  I  should  have 
been  so  unprofitable  a  laborer,  so  unfit  for  the  Master's  use; 


WILLIAM    C.WALTON.  1G5 

Revolution  in  Dr.  Ryland's  sentiments. 

and  joy  that  the  Lord  has  done  so  much  for  my  poor  guilty 
soul,  in  producing  that  change  in  my  feelings  and  views  of 
which  I  am  conscious,  and  for  which  I  can  never  be  suffi- 
ciently thankful."  * 

"Sabbath,  Aug.  20. — A  very  rainy  day.  Preached  twice 
entirely  extempore.  The  audience  being  small,  I  reserved 
the  discourses  I  had  prepared  for  more  hearers.  I  have 
not  had  much  of  the  spirit  and  unction  of  preaching  to- 
day, but  a  deeper  sense  of  my  leanness,  barrenness,  and 
shallow  attainments.  I  feel  thai  I  greatly  need  to  be  taught 
of  God  and  qualified  by  His  Spirit  for  the  right  discharge 
of  my  duties.  I  greatly  need  a  season  of  refreshing  in  my 
own  soul.  The  Life  of  Fletcher,  which  I  have  just  read, 
has  been  much  blessed  to  me." 

"Sept.  28. — We  have  lately  urged  much  the  necessity  of 
increased  engagedness  in  prayer,  and  labored  to  impress  it 
upon  the  minds  of  Christians  that  all  our  efforts  will  be  in 
vain  until  the  Lord  begins  to  work.  We  have  recommended 
it  to  all  to  set  apart  some  time  every  day  between  the  hours 
of  one  and  three  o'clock,  to  pray  especially  for  the  outpour- 
ing of  the   Holy  Spirit.     This  agreement  has   been  acted 


*  By  t  lie  change  in  Walton's  views,  one  is  reminded  of  similar  changes  in  the  senti- 
ments of  men,  who  have  b een  eminently  useful,  as  Scott,  Richmond,  Ryland,  Bedell, 
&c.  Dr.  Ryland  once  held,  with  Dr.  Gill,  the  celebrated  commentator,  that  it  i-  unlaw- 
ful to  urge  the  dutiesof  faitfi  and  repentance  on  men  in  general.  This  indeed  is  an 
error,  which  we  should  suppose,  would  be  destroyed  by  the  consideration,  that  "it 
would  have  annihilated  at  once  the  apostolic  commission,  by  rendering  it  impossible 
to  '  preach  the  gospel '  in  nun  '  creature,'  since  there  were  in  the  Gentile  world  none  to 
whom  on  this  principle  it  could  be  "ddressed." 

Dr.  Ryland  was  embarrassed  by  the  intrinsic  improbability  and  the  extrinsic  perni- 
CiOUSness  of  such  a  sentiment.  It  cut  the  very  sinews  of  effort  'Or  the  salvation  of 
sinners.  lie  felt  that  he  was  shackled.  Three  things  helped  to  dissolve  his  chains  ; 
1.  His  acquaint  nee  with  the  puritan  writers,  who  were  distinguished  for  their  fear- 
less and  cogent  appeals  to  the  conscience.  '2.  His  intimacy  with  Andrew  Fuller,  the 
most  clear  and  candid  of  reasoners.  most  unostentatious  of  writers,  and  most  modest 
of  men.  Of  the  Christian  minister  I  need  not  speak.  3.  And  chiefly,  his  study  of 
our  own  Edwards  on  the  Will,  a  book  which  has  poured  its  beneficent  light  on  so 
many  humble  and  exalted  intellects  ever  since  the  period  of  its  gift  to  the  world. — Set 
Pastoral  Memorials. 

The  chancre  in  Legit  Richmond,  it  is  well  known,  was  not  only  doctrinal  but  highly 
practical  and  entire,  and  was  effected  through  the  agency  of  Wilberforce's  Practical 
View  of  Christianity,  which  affected  so  many  lofty  minds  in  England,  in  conjunction 
with  Hannah  More's  intellectual  and  spiritual  efforts. — See  Grimshaw's  Life  of 
Richmond,  Chapter  III. 


166  MEMOIR    OF 


Suci  ess  of  bis  sermons 


upon  since  last  Sabbath.  It  has  already  produced  a  good 
elfect  upon  Christians,  and  last  night  we  bad  more  at  our 

inquiry  meeting  than  usual.     Mr.  appears  to  be  a 

changed  man — regarded  as  a  miracle  of  grace — has  been 
very  wild  and  intemperate.  Other  appearances  also  encour- 
aging." 

"Dec.  18. — Last  Sabbath  two  weeks,  while  preaching  on 

the  subject  of  justification  by  faith,  Mr. was  awakened. 

The  truth  flashed  in  upon  his  mind  with  such  power  that 
he  saw  his  errors,  immediately  renounced  them,  and  went 
home  ami  engaged  in  family  prayer!  The  same  sermon 
blessed  to  his  wifi  —  they  both  appear  now  to  be  new  crea- 
tures; the1,  had  professed  before.  But  he  was  a  sceptic — 
a  universalist,  who  appeared  to  be  in  the  most  hopeless 
condition.  His  wife  thinks  her  views  and  feelings  now  are 
essentially  different  from  what  they  ever  were  before.  The 
change  is  marvellous  !  " 

Truth  from  the  lips  of  our  brother  seemed  wonderfully 
blessed  at  this  time,  not  only  to  the  elevation  of  the  general 
tone  of  piety  and  pious  endeavor,  but  to  the  conviction  and 
salvation  of  individuals.  A  man  who  was  notorious  for 
profaneness  in  language  and  profligacy  of  habits,  was  awak- 
ened under  a  sermon  from  the  text,  '  My  heart  is  fixed.1 
lie  became  a  decided  christian.  Another  gentleman  and 
his  wife  "  professed  to  give  themselves  to  the  Lord.  Since 
last  Sabbath  evening,  he  has  been  in  great  anxiety  and  dis- 
tress. I  went  to  his  house,  conversed  and  prayed  with 
them,  and  before  I  left  them,  both  appeared  to  take  a  decid- 
ed stand,  and  to  submit  to  the  terms  of  salvation.  After  I 
left  him,  lie  opened  the  bible  and  every  thing  appeared  new ; 
his  views  became  clearer,  and  he  has  since  been  rejoicing." 
Another  gentleman  was,  as  he  trusted,  converted  by  means 
of  a  sermon  preached  on  a  Sabbath  morning,  from  1 1  am 
thine,  save  me.1 

Let  it  not  be  forgotten,  that  during  this  season  of  success- 
ful preaching,  which  continued  from  month  to  month,  the 
subject  of  this  biography,  who  was  foremost  among  those 
that   urge  ability,  duty  and  obligation  on  sinners,  was   fre- 


WILLIAM     C.WALTON.  107 


Doctrines  preached. 


qucnt  and  fervent  in  setting  forth  the  doctrine  of  the  agency 
of  the  Holy  Spirit,  as  indispensable  to  any  right  action  or 
successful  issue.  It  was  a  subject  which  he  had  studied  pro- 
foundly, on  which  he  preached  frequently,  conversed  and 
wrote  much,  and  on  which  he  gave  a  small  volume  to  the 
press.  He  even  wenj  ;'s  far  ;is  John  Howard  Hinton,  of 
England,  with  whom  he  corresponded,  and  who  sent  him 
his  work  on  the  Spirit,  the  idea  of  which  was  suggested  by 
reading  an  article  of  Walton  republished  in  England. 

"  The  spirit  of  prayer  appears  to  increase,  and  also  a 
conviction  of  our  absolute  dependence  upon  the  Holy  Spirit 
for  a  revival  of  religion,  the  doctrine  often  and  explicitly 
recognized  in  speaking  and  in  prayer.  I  have  lately  expe- 
rienced more  assistance  in  preaching  than  ever  before.  I 
have  seemed  to  have  a  clearness  of  conception,  a  strength 
of  mind,  and  energy  of  feeling,  that  I  never  had  before.  A 
number  of  infidels  have  been  lately  seen  at  our  church,  and 

the  congregation  increase's.     Mrs.  D ,  awakened  under 

1  Behold  notO  the  accepted  time,'  Sfc,  since  obtained  a  hope." 

"Dec.  21,  Friday  <vc. — Number  increased,  both  male 
and  female.  Some,  I  hope,  submitted.  Several  in  deep 
distress — all  solemn,  and  scarcely  any  would  go  away,  until 
I  told  them  it  was  time  to  retire.  I  feel  more  and  more  a 
revival  influence — solemn,  anxious,  almost  trembling,  hop- 
inn,  believing,  convinced  that  God  alone  can  do  the  work." 

"  Dec.  25. — Mr.  ,  after  being  anxious  for  some  time, 

was  asked  at  the  close  of  a  sermon  by  his  friend,  '  What  do 
you  think  of  this?'  'Oh,'  said  he,  'I  cannot  think  of 
bringing  disgrace  upon  me  by  making  a  profession,  for  I 
know  1  should  not  act  consistently.'  (This  declaration  was 
predicated  on  his  continuing  in  the  same  state  of  mind  in 
which  he  was  at  that  time;  but  sinners  ought  not  to  draw- 
any  conclusions  on  that  ground.  The  question  is,  if  I  give 
my  heart  to  the  Lord,  lay  hold  upon  His  covenant,  will  He 
enable  me  to  be  faithful  ?)     Last  Sabbath  night  week,  he 

got  a  deep   and  most    agonizing  impression.      Mr.  M 

could  get  nothing  from  him  after  the  work  was  over — he 
went  home  in  deep  thought.  On  Thursday,  after  I  had  left 
him,  he  took  the  bible,  and  as  he  was  reading,  he  stopped 
and  turned  round  to   his  wife,  saying,  '  My  clear,  I  am  on 


1 68  MEMOIR    OF 


iM:irtin  Bos'  opinion  of  what  are  t  lit*  hrsl  senium-.  Ili<  dOVOtl  >n  to  Ills  work. 

the  Lord's  side  now.'  Immediately  light  and  joy  broke  into 
his  soul,  and  he  experienced  the  truth  of  that  promise,  '  The 
work  of  righteousness  shall  he  peace,  and  the  effect  of 
righteousness  quietness  and  assurance  forever.'  " 

In  labors  and  successes  like  these  closed  the  year  1827, 
awakening  in  the  retrospect  many  delightful  recollections, 
and  presenting  prospectively  a  pledge  that  other  sweet  and 
refreshing  seasons  would  yet  gladden  the  heart  of  the 
devoted  Pastor.  Precious  were  the  laurels  he  gathered  to 
compose  the  crown  of  his  rejoicing.  Invaluable  the  gems 
for  "  the  royal  diadem  in  the  hand  "  of  his  Lord  and  King. 
As  Sailer,  a  pupil  of  Martin  Bos,  said  of  his  teacher,  he 
was  in  his  sphere  more  and  more  "  learning  how  to  peo- 
ple earth  and  heaven  with  the  children  of  God."  And 
what  Bos  himself,  who  accomplished  his  greatest  results  by 
preaching,  said,  Walton  seemed  to  feel  and  exemplify : 
"  We  must  dig  very  deeply  to  discover  the  treasure,  and  it 
is  when  we  feel  our  weakness  and  misery  most,  that  we  dig 
the  best ;  for  those  are  not  the  best  sermons  which  we  have 
labored  over  with  difficulty,  but  those  which  we  have,  as  it 
were,  supplicated  from  the  Lord  toith  tears  and  prayers." 
Such  were  the  sermons  which  God  blessed,  and  which  He 
ever  will  bless,  if  followed  up,  as  in  the  case  of  our  friend, 
with  patient  personal  instruction  and  admonition  to  those 
whose  attention  has  been  arrested. 

Another  thought  should  not  be  omitted.  Walton  was 
now  "giving  himself  wholly  "  to  the  work  of  the  ministry. 
Not  even  the  business  of  teaching  diverted  his  attention. 
His  employment  was  completely  '  fitted  to  his  person  and 
calling.'  Ail  his  powers  were  devoted  to  a  minister's  grand 
business — saving   SOULS. 

"Some  then-  are,"  says  a  quaint  author  of  another  age, 
that  employ  their  time  in  affairs  infinitely  below  the  dignity 
of  their  person,  and  being  called  of  God  or  by  the  republic 
to  help  bear  great  burthens,  and  to  judge  a  people,  enfeeble 
their  understandings  and  disable  their  persons  by  sordid 


WILLIAM     C .     WALTON.  169 

Wiiai  degrade      clergyman. 


and  brutish  business.  Thus  Nero  went  up  and  down  Greece 
and  challenged  the  fiddlers  at  their  trade.  .Kropiis,  a 
Macedonian  king,  made  lanterns.  Ilarcatius,  the  Parthian 
king,  was  a  mole-catcher;  and  Biantes,  the  Lydian,  tiled 
needles. 

"He  that  is  appointed  to  minister  in  holy  things,  must 
not  suffer  secular  affairs  and  sordid  arts  to  eat  up  great  por- 
tions of  his  employment.  A  clergyman  must  not  keep  a 
tavern,  nor  a  judge  be  an  innkeeper,  and  it  was  a  great 
idleness  in  Theophylact,  the  Patriarch  of  C.  P.  to  spend 
his  time  in  his  stable  of  horses,  when  he  should  have  been 
in  his  study  or  in  the  pulpit,  or  saying  his  holy  offices.  Such 
employments  are  diseases  of  labor  and  the  rust  of  time, 
which  it  contracts,  not  by  lying  still,  but  by  dirty  employ- 
ment." 

15 


CHAPTER     X. 


I iu-ri-n.r-iiiLr  interest  in  Alexandria. 


In  reviewing  the  events  of  the  life  and  ministry  of  Mr. 
Walton  in  the  city  of  Alexandria,  as  recorded  in  the  pre- 
ceding pages,  it  will  be  evident  to  the  most  cursory  observer, 
that  his  position  was  one  of  profound  interest  to  himself, 
and  of  great  importance  to  the  cause  of  Christ.  The  pros- 
pects for  a  general  revival  of  religion  wore  evidently  bright- 
ening. As  a  kind  of  first  fruits,  there  had  occurred  some 
of  the  most  remarkable  conversions  within  the  experience 
of  the  pastor.  He  had  firmly  intrenched  himself  in  the 
confidence  and  affections  of  the  people.  And  this  point 
had  been  gained,  not  by  any  ingenious  arts  of  management, 
but  by  straight  forward  labors  for  the  good  of  souls.  De- 
termining to  know  nothing  among  them  but  '  Christ,  and 
Him  crucified,'  he  availed  himself  of  the  great  advantages 
of  that  powerful  moral  position,  to  carry  on  the  high  spirit- 
ual warfare  in  which  he  was  engaged.  He  has  been  known 
to  say,  that  he  received  at  that  time  more  convincing  testi- 
monies of  the  blessing  of  God  on  his  pulpit  labors  than  ever 
before  cheered  his  heart.  The  spirit  of  inquiry  increased. 
The  grace  of  God  superabounded  in  reclaiming  from  the 
regions  of  profligacy  some  of  the  most  abandoned  charac- 
ters. The  minds  of  the  people,  guided  by  the  Spirit,  entered 
without  much  difficulty  into  the  views  of  the  Pastor,  and 


MEMOIR     OF     WALTON.  171 

Experience  of  a  young  convert. 

harmonized  with  his  plans  of  usefulness,  lie  was  gather- 
ing round  him  ;i  devoted  band  of  praying  Christians,  who 
exemplified  the  bible  truth,  that  'there  is  no  restraint  to 
the  Lord,  to  save  by  ninny  or  by  few.'  Some  of  the  fruits 
of  his  pastoral  care  and  culture  he  began  to  bring  into  the 
church  :  "  Feb.  :'»,  1^*2*. — This  day  two  weeks,  w*e  received 
16  new  members,  and  the  work  is  going  on.  The  pros- 
pects now  arc  as  favorable  as  they  ever  have  been." 

"Feb.  8. — I  have  for  some  time  been  praying  that  the 
Lord  would  take  me  into  His  hands  as  an  instrument^  and 
influence  me  as  lie  pleases,  to  accomplish  His  own  pur- 
poses by  me.  And  I  have  seen  the  most  striking  proofs 
that  He  has  directed  me  in  the  choice  of  subjects  suited  to 
the  state  of  persons  whom  lie  lias  brought  to  the  knowledge 
of  the   truth.      Last    night,   after    1    had    done   preaching,  I 

went  to  M  iss ,  a  thing  which  I  had  not  done  before,  and 

that  alarmed  her  and  deepened  the  impression.  She  went 
home  and  obtained  relief  in  a  short  time.  She  had  told  me 
that  she  had  done  every  thing  she  could  do,  and  did  not 
now  know  what  more  to  do.  But  she  found  out  the  secret 
last  night.  This  day  I  have  been  much  encouraged  by 
hearing  of  her  conversion  and  other  favorable  appearances. 
I  feel  a  strong  desire  to  know  and  feel  more  of  the  love  of 
Christ.  For  a  few  days  I  have  found  benefit  in  reflecting 
upon  this  passage — ;  It  pleased  the  Father  that  in  Him 
should  all  fullness  dwell.'  I  feel  an  increased  confidence 
in  applying  to  Him  that  I  may  receive  from  this  fullness 
grace  upon  grace."' 

"  I  had  been  doing  nothing  right,"  said  she,  "  all  wrong, 
(and  yet  she  had  been  praying,  reading,  &c.  in  the  deepest 
distress.)  I  felt  that  I  must  do  something  that  I  never  had 
done.  1  went  to  my  room  ;  I  tried  to  pray  ;  I  rose  and  felt 
that  the  Saviour  was  able  and  willing  to  save  me,  a  lost  sin- 
ner, and  I  could  trust  in  Him  and  surrender  myself  entirely 

to  Him.     I  am  as  happy  as  I  can  be."    threw  her  arms 

around  my  neck.  After  she  had  experienced  the  change,  she 
thought  she  had  lost  her  impressions,  but  felt  that  she 
could  love  the  Saviour.  She  told  me  yesterday  that  she  had 
felt  until  she  was  past  feeling.  The  subject  last  night  was, 
'  Who  have  fled  for  refuge  to  lay  hold  on  the  hope  set  before 
us.' 


1  72  MEMOIR    OF 


Results  of  an  Infidel's  proposal. 


"March  4. — A  few  weeks  ago,  a  man  of  sceptical  senti- 
ments was  boasting  that  he  could  never  get  any  minister  to 
preach  from  a  text  which  he  wished  to  hear  explained, 
plainly  indicating  that  he  thought  it  so  absurd,  as  not  to 
admit  of  any  satisfactory  explanation.  1  felt  it  my  duty  to 
take  from  him  this  occasion  of  triumph,  and  engaged  to 
preach  from  it.  He  promised  to  come  and  bring  as  many 
more  persons  of  his  way  of  thinking  as  he  could.  The  fact 
was  privately  circulated,  and  we  had  a  crowded  congrega- 
tion, (last  Sabbath  evening  week.)  When  1  went  in,  1  was 
told  that  all  the  infidels  in  town  were  there.  Such  a  num- 
ber of  them,  1  suppose,  was  hardly  ever  collected  in  a 
church  before.  A  methodist  present  said  when  he  looked 
around  and  saw  the  character  of  my  audience  and  the  diffi- 
culty of  my  situation,  he  prayed  for  me,  and  never  prayed 
so  for  any  person  in  his  life.  We  had  had  a  special  prayer 
meeting  that  afternoon.  Not  only  infidels,  but  catholics, 
quakers,  «Scc.  were  there  to  hear  what  could  be  made  of 
the  difficult  text — 'Jacob  have  1  loved,  Esau  have  I  hated.' 
So  far  as  I  have  heard,  the  impression  was  decidedly  good. 
The  persons  mainly  concerned,  were  generally  more  than 
pleased  ;  some  have  commenced  reading  the  bible  ;  one, 
an  atheist,  bad  been  at  church  twice  since,  and  talks  as  if 
he  intended  to  continue.  The  sceptic  himself  had  not 
been  to  church  for  twenty  years  before,  except  to  hear  a 
woman.  Last  Sabbath  evening  I  took  up  another  difficulty 
in  the  same  chapter — 'Therefore  hath  lie  mercy  on  whom 
He  will,'  &/C.  A  full  house  again,  although  it  was  raining 
and  blowing.  The  impression  seems  to  he  still  better. 
Several  infidels  have  thus  been  led  to  an  acquaintance  with 
me,  and  1  have  visited  them.  The  present  prospect  is  that 
under  the  divine  blessing,  much  good  will  grow  out  of  this 
singular  affair." 

These  circumstances  served  very  severely  to  task  the 
meekness  and  prudence,  as  well  as  the  intellectual  and  the- 
ological abilities  of  Mr.  Walton,  and  he  passed  the  ordeal 
with  a  success,  that  proved  the  Divine  aid  imparted  to  him 
in  this  emergency.  The  doctrines  of  the  gospel  were  mag- 
nified— his  own  character  was  elevated — souls  were  con- 
verted— God  was  slorified. 


WILLIAM     C.     WALTON.  173 

A  congregation  founded. 

Two  men,  who  had  spent  years  in  the  cheerless  gloom 
of  scepticism,  received  impressions  which  shortly  afterwards 
issued  in  their  conversion,  and  the  conversion  of  nine  or 
ten  of  their  connexions.  One  of  these  men,  after  making 
a  profession  of  religion,  removed  with  his  family  to  a  small 
village,  bearing  the  aboriginal  name  of  Occoquan,  sixteen 
miles  from  Alexandria,  very  destitute  of  religious  influence; 
he  commenced  a  Sabbath  School  in  his  own  house.  From 
twelve  the  number  increased  to  near  fifty  scholars,  and  in 
a  few  weeks,  some  of  nearly  adult  age  began  to  evince  con- 
cern for  the  salvation  of  their  souls.  The  spirit  of  inquiry 
and  anxiety  increased  and  spread  itself,  and  the  result  was 
the  happy  conversion  of  a  goodly  number  of  individuals, 
and  the  formation  of  a  congregation  ! 

"  I  am  still  going  on  with  a  series  of  discourses  adapted 
to  the  present  state  of  things.  My  hands  have  been  so  full 
of  late,  that  although  I  have  not  omitted  any  of  my  private 
duties  yet  I  have  not  been  as  much  engaged  in  them  as 
usual.  There  has  been  a  great  want  of  spirituality,  and  sim- 
plicity, and  disinterestedness — sometimes  hardness  of  heart. 
I  have  had  so  many  excitements,  and  so  long  continued, 
that  I  sometimes  feel  as  if  I  could  feel  no  more.  Since 
last  Sabbath  evening  I  have  been  more  humble  and  solemn, 
and  this  day,  which  has  been  set  apart  as  a  day  of  humili- 
ation, thanksgiving  and  prayer,  will,  I  trust,  prove  a  bles- 
sing to  my  soul." 

Of  another  individual  instance  he  records,  "  The  first 
evening  I  returned,  (after  a  few  days  absence,)  I  went  down 

to  see .     She  looked  much  distressed.     I  commenced 

talking,  with  very  little  hope  at  first,  but  I  was  led  on  with 
increasing  interest.  At  length  I  repeated  part  of  the  116th 
Psalm — "  My  life  which  thou  hast  made  thy  care,  Lord  I 
devote  to  thee ! "  She  told  me  since,  she  then  felt  that 
she  could  adopt  that  language.  I  asked  her  if  she  could 
say  that  she  would  from  that  moment  devote  herself  to  the 
Lord,  whatever  might  become  of  her  ?  She  said  she  was 
so  resolved.  Thus  she  experienced  some  relief.  I  left  her. 
She  was  afraid  of  being  deceived,  and  would  not  go  to 
meeting  Friday  evening,  that  she  might  have  an  opportu- 

15* 


174  MEMOIR     or 


New  cases  of  conviction. 


nity  of  examining  herself.     She  soon  obtained  entire  relief 

and  great  joy.     She  related  her  experience  to ,  when 

he  returned  home,  and  his  mind,  which  had  been  shaken 
before,  was  now  convinced  thai  he  had  been  resting  upon 
a  false  hope,  (he  had  been  very  moral  and  he  thought  retig- 
iuus,)  that  be  had  experienced  religion  so  gradually  that  it 
wob  not  perceptible.  But  now  he  fell  that  he  hid  no  reli- 
gion. Ever  since  that  time  he  has  been  distressed,  and  last 
night  he  obtained  comfort,  and  now  regards  it  as  an  infinite 
mercy  that  he  was  not  given  up  to  final  delusion." 

"April  14. — Mr. was  an  old,  hardened,  profane  man. 

He  says  he  cared  nothing  about  religion,  and  said  he,  '  If 
you  bad  talked  to  me  or  read  the  bible  tome,  it  would  have 
made  no  more  impression  than  if  you  had  spoken  to  a  horse.' 
He  was  walking  near  our  church  one  Thursday  evening 
about  five  weeks  ago,  and  he..  '  Mie  bell  begin  to  ring.  It 
was  strongly  impressed  upon  his  mind  that  he  ought  to  go. 

He  went  to  's.     The  family  advised   him  to  go  to  the 

Episcopal  Church  ;  but  he  was  inclined  to  come  to  ours, 
and  there  he  received  his  first  convictions.  They  were  in- 
creased until  he  became  very  wretched,  and  last  Sabbath 
afternoon  at  prayer  meeting,  be  obtained  relief — went  home 
happy.  1  saw  him  this  morning.  J  J  is  heart  appeared  to 
be  overflowing  with  bumble  gratitude.  When  1  spoke  of 
his  obligations,  and  how  he  ought  now  to  strive  to  do  good 
to  others,  he  remarked,  'Oh  the  debt  is  so  great!'  intim- 
ating that  he  could  never  pay  it;  then  weeping,  '  I  weep,' 
says  he,  '  not  because  I  am  unhappy,  but,'  with  strong  feel- 
ing, '  but  I  am  so  pleased  with  Him,'  i.  e.  God.  '  O  what  a 
friend  he  is  to  me  !  '  " 

"  Last  Sabbath  week  admitted  nineteen.  Appearances 
this  morning  very  encouraging.  Had  a  thorough  and  sol- 
emn talk  with  several  persons  who  appear  to  be  very  thought- 
ful." 

"  Mr. says  Ids  minister  had  given  him  wrong  direc- 
tions, and  he  bad  gone  to  work  at  the  means,  and  he  was 
losing  his  impressions.  He  became  alarmed — went  to  the 
minister  and  asked  him  in  deep  anxiety,  '  Whatskall'l  do?  ' 
'  Repent,'  says  he.  It  irritated  him,  but  it  went  to  his 
heart.  Nothing  ever  distressed  him  so  much.  He  soon 
submitted.  While  he  was  praying,  &c.  he  thought  he 
could  do  something,  and  bis  case  was  not  desperate." 

"  I  asked  Mr. at  the  prayer  meeting,  if  he  desired  to 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  175 


Sermon  on  the  Divine  Sovereignty. 


be  a  Christian.  Yes.  lie  thought  he  did.  Are  you  wil- 
ling to  become  one  now  on  the  spot?  lie  had  a  painful 
conflict.  It  showed  him  the  evil  of  his  heart;  he  said  ho 
was  not.  But  it  made  him  so  uneasy  that  he  could  had 
no  rest  until  lie  came  to  the  Saviour." 

"May  17. — I  have  seen  much  reason  to  believe  that  the 
event  by  winch  I  was  led  to  commence  a  series  of  doctrinal 
discussions,  was  ordered  by  the  Lord  for  the  advancement 
of  His  cause.  It  has  led  me  to  clearer  and  more  satisfac- 
tory views  of  doctrinal  points  than  I  ever  had  before,  and 
I  have  a  strong  hope  that  others  have  been  savingly  bene- 
fitted. The  congregation  has  been  increased,  and  its 
interests  in  every  way  appear  to  have  been  promoted. 
There  have  always  been  some  inquirers.  At  our  last  com- 
munion nineteen  more  were  added;  making  forty-nine  in 
all,  since  I  was  installed.  The  work  is  still  going  on,  but 
not  with  as  much  energy  and  life  as  marked  its  progress 
some  weeks  ago.  I  have  been  more  occupied  in  writing, 
preparing  some  things  for  the  press,  &c.  This  has  pre- 
vented me  from  visiting  as  much  as  I  did. 

His  sermon  preached  i'<  Washington  on  the  doctrine  of 
the  Divine  Sovereignty,  the  substai  e  of  which  was  after- 
wards amplified  and  published  in  a  little  volume  :  was  pro- 
nounced by  a  lay  gentleman  of  distinguished  theological 
knowledge  "  the  clearest  discussion  of  that  subject  he  had 
ever  heard."  Some  of  his  positions  seemed  startlino  to 
some  brethren  in  the  ministry,  but  they  were  the  result  of 
the  most  candid  investigation  on  his  part,  and  were  firmly 
believed  by  him — one  of  the  most  conscientious  of  men. 

"  Monday  morning-,  Mat/  19. — Yesterday  I  was  much 
indisposed;  in  bed  nearly  all  the  morning  ;  had  not  even  a 
skeleton  of  my  discourse  fully  made  out;  went  to  the 
Church  in  great  weakness;  the  congregation  unusually 
large,  and  blessed  be  God  I  had  unusual  liberty  ;  and  I  was 
strengthened  to  go  through  all  the  services  of  the  day 
comfortably.  1  find  that  Divine  truth  is  constantly  opening 
to  my  view.  I  receive  new  and  more  satisfactorv  views  of 
some  parts  of  the  great  system  almost  every  week.  I  find 
too  a  heart  to  desire  and  to  pray  for  the  extension  of  Christ's 


1 76  MEMOIR     OP 


Blessing  on  various  ni«  lings. 


kingdom — tor  t ho  salvation  of  sinners,  and  in  praying  for 
this  object,  1  have  had  lately  more  distinct  views  of  its 
nature  and  importance  than  before.  It  appears  to  me  to 
be  unspeakably  desirable  thai  rebels  Bhould  submit  to  the 
authority  of  God;  that  those  who  are  now  at  enmity  with 
Him,  should  love  Him.  When  1  am  languid,  nothing  ani- 
mates me  so  soon  as  praying  for  a  revival  of  true  reli- 
gion." 

"  June 9. — This  morning  I  set  off  for  Jefferson.  I  have 
had  an  increasing  depression  of  spirits  for  the  last  week. 
Yesterday  I  felt  extremely  dissatisfied  with  my  perform- 
ances; I  feel  so  still.  Surely  if  any  good  comes  of  them, 
it  must  he  the  work  of  God,  and  1  believe  that  he  can  make 
them  instrumental  in  accomplishing  any  purposes  that  lie 
may  please.  Yesterday  and  to-day  I  bare  fell  the  working 
of  evil  in  my  heart  at  times,  in  an  unusual  degree.  It  was 
a  strong  temptation,  but  the  Lord  did  not  give  me  up  to  the 
will  of  my  enemies.  I  feel  my  dependence  upon  sovereign 
gracr,  and  upon  the  fulness  of  my  Saviour  more  sensibly 
than  I  ever  did  before.  I  am  conscious  tint  I  do  unreserv- 
edly renounce  all  dependence  upon  myself  or  my  works, 
and  rely  exclusively  upon  the  merits  and  the  grace  of 
Christ."' 

"  Jti.li/  29. — This  evening  a  very  encoura  ring  meeting; 
two  young  females  professed  to  submit ;  many  attended  ; 
much  solemn  feeling  till  10  o'clock." 

"  Jul)/  39. — This  morning  the  two  young  females  who 
professed  to  submit  last  nighl  appear  to  be  firm,  and  to 
enjoy  religion  ;  had  a  meeting  with  them  at  A.  Douglas'  ; 
others  attended  ;  two  or  three  more  appeared  willing  to  sub- 
mit. The  prospect  has  been  more  encouraging  for  two  or 
three  weeks  past." 

"  Scj)t.  12. — I  was  led  to  appoint  two  meetings  on  the 
same  evening,  (Wednesday)  in  different  parts  of  the  town, 
for  the  purpose  of  collecting  a  few  persons  together,  and 
talking,  and  praying  with  them.     The  first  evening  at   Mr. 

C 's  we  had  a  solemn,  weeping  time,  and  so  it  continued, 

until  nearly  all  who  attended  there  were  indulging  a  hope. 
The  effect  upon  the  Church  was  visible;  all  the  meetings 
became  more  solemn  and  more  interesting,  and  so  it  con- 
tinues to  this  hour ;  and  now  we  have  the  prospect  of  a 
considerable  addition  to  our  Church.  Our  communion 
will  be  on  next  Sabbath  week,  and  in  connexion  with  it  we 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  177 

Attacked  with  cerebral  Dervoiunew, 

wish  to  have  a  four  days'  meeting,  if  we  can  get  sullicicnt 
help.  Brother  Post  and  myself  have  agreed  to  set  apart 
this  day  tor  fasting  and  prayer  in  order  to  seek  the  Divine 
Messing  upon  that  occasion,  and  to  get  our  own  hearts 
prepared  for  it.     May  the  Lord  help  us!  " 

Speaking  of  a  nervous  affection  of  the  head,  which 
caused  him  very  great  mental  suffering,  such  as  apprehen- 
sion of  danger,  fear  of  insanity,  &c.  he  says  that  he  "  walk- 
ed into  the  woods  and  prayed,  and  wandered  ahout,  trying 
to  divert  my  thoughts  for  sometime."  *  *  "I  helieve, 
too,  that  Satan  had  an  agency  in  suggesting  and  magnifying 
unpleasant  things  to  my  mind.  My  experience  during  the 
continuance  of  this  affection  satisfied  me,  that  I  could  set 
no  bounds  to  the  misery  which  the  great  Author  of  the 
human  frame  could  inflict  upon  us,  through  the  medium  of 
the  nervous  system  alone.  When  it  is  excited  to  a  morbid 
sensibility,  and  the  imagination  is  set  to  work  under  the 
influence  of  Satan,  it  may  produce  a  hell  upon  earth.  Bles- 
sed be  the  Lord  my  God,  for  He  hath  heard  my  supplication 
and  delivered  me  from  all  my  fears."  "Nature,"  said  Pay- 
son,  "  cannot  long  hold  out  under  what  I  endure  :  and  I 
trust  that  ere  many  years  I  shall  be  safe  in  the  grave,  where 
'  the  wicked  cease  from  troubling  and  the  weary  are  at  rest.' 
If,  meanwhile,  I  may  be  preserved  from  insanity,  and  from 
wounding  the  cause  of  Christ,  by  falling  into  open  wicked- 
ness, it  is  all  I  ask  for,  and  perhaps  more  than  I  have  any 
reason  to  expect." 

"  Mr.   an   inveterate  moralist,  or  rather  pharisee, 

could  not  bear  the  idea  that  he  must  be  saved  in  the  same 
way,  and  as  really  needed  a  change  of  heart,  as  gross  sin- 
ners. After  he  was  convicted,  he  quit  cavilling  on  this  sub- 
ject, and  about  the  heathen,  and  confessed  that  he  was  an 
old  sinner,  a  great  sinner,  &,c,  and  appeared  as  humble  as 
a  little  clrild,  and  desired  to  be  instructed  in  the  first  prin- 
ciples of  his  duty.  His  language  was  '  Lord  what  wilt  thou 
have  me  to  do,'  " 

"  Miss a  Catholic,  had  thought  she  was  a  sinner, 


178  MEMOIR     OF 


1  i  lie  work. 


and  had  been  under  impressions  for  many  months;  hut  last 
Sabbath  evening,  while  Bitting  oh  the  anxious  seat,  she 
suddenly  had  such  a  \  iew  of  her  sins  that,  to  u-e  her  own 
expression,  she  was  '  left  without  hope,  without  faith,  with- 
out any  thing,  and  fell  as  it'  sinking  into  hell.'  Her  coun- 
tenance and  manner  indicated  this  :  she  said  '  (  Mi  pray  for 
in".  Oh  !>■  j  for  me.'  in  a  icw  moments  she  cast  herself 
upon  Christ,  and  found  rest  and  peace  to  her  soul.  She 
was  thou  convinced  tint  she  had  never  been  willing  to  come 
to  Christ  before.  She  had  been  praying,  &c.  so  long  that 
si..'  began  to  conclude  there  was  no  reality  in  religion,  or 
she  would  have  found  it." 

"  Oct.  •">. —  In  answer  to  prayer,  the  Lord  sent  us  brothers 
Patterson,  and  Danforth,  and  Post,  to  assist  at  our  four 
days'  meeting.  There  was  much  praying,  and  incessant 
activity  among  Ministers  and  Christians  to  bring  souls  to 
Christ:  and  verily  the  Lord  did  not  suffer  us  to  labor  in 
vain.  Thirty  persons  were  added  to  the  communion  of 
this  Church,  and  five  v  ir  thirty-two  more ;  the  for- 

mer had  been  awakened,  and  nearly  all  hopefully  converted 
before  the  meeting  commenced  ;  but  the  litter  were  generally 
awakened  and  many  hopefully  converted  during  the  meeting, 
and  the  following  week.  For  some  weeks  we  had  occasion- 
ally invited  anxious  persons  to  come  forward  to  a  seat  appro- 
priated to  them,  and  we  continued  this  practice  through 
tins  meeting  with  the  best  effect." 

The  writer  can  testify  to  the  power*  and  majesty  of  this 
work,  as  he  had  the  pleasure  of  participating  in  the  holy 
solemnities,  and  witnessing  the  spiritual  triumphs  of  that 
occasion.  It  was  a  great  and  good  work.  Its  remem- 
brance will  not  only  be  sweet  in  life,  but  cheering  in  death, 
and  grateful  to  the  soul,  as  from  its  high  employment  in 
Heaven,  it  takes  a  a  retrospective  glance  to  what  on  earth 
assisted  it  in  preparing  for  its  peaceful  and  blessed  home. 
An  interesting  general   sketch  of  this   four  days'   meeting 


*  Some  of  the  keepers  of  the  taverns  complained  bitterly  of  this  revival,  as  diminish- 
ing the  amount  of  their  receipts  for  liquor.  One  tavern-keeper  said  his  custom  had 
sustained  a  loss  of  about  $1K),  such  a  rage  was  there  for  temperance  !  Another  said, 
"  we  must  drive  Walton  out  of  town,  or  tee  shall  lose  our  custom" 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  170 

Interchange  between  the  Congregation*, 


was  published  in  the  New  York  Ob  server  of  Nov.  1,  1828, 
in  the  form  of  a  letter  from  ;m  intelligent  layman,  provi- 
dentially in  the  place  at  the  time,  who  had  never  witnessed 
a  similar  scene.*  It  was  the  first  meeting  of  the  kind  the 
writer  knows  of  in  the  Atlantic  churches. 

On  one  occasion,  Mr.  Walton,  the  pastor,  and  many  of  his 
communicants  went  over,  after  their  own  service,  and  com- 
muned at  the  Lord's  table  with  their  brethren  of  the  First 
Church.  There  was  mutual  satisfaction  ;  it  was  a  heavenly 
scene,  and  many  shed  tears  of  gratitude  and  joy.  The 
pastors  preached,  each  in  the  church  of  the  other,  on  Sat- 
urday and  Sabbath. 

"  Oct.   12. — Brother  says  that  after  he    obtained 

relief  by  submission  to  Christ,  he  lost  bis  peace,  and  was 
much  troubled  for  several  days — he  was  conscious  of  being 
unwilling  to  pray  in  his  family — it  was  a  cross — it  burdened 
his  conscience,  grieved  the  Holy  Spirit.  Just  at  that  time 
I  preached — doubtless  directed  by  the  Divine  influence — 
from  these  words,  '  /  am  with  you  saitk  the  Lord.'  It 
suited  his  case  exactly;  he  now  had  courage  to  begin,  and 
has  enjoyed  increasing  pleasure  in  religion  ever  since;  has 
had  some  most  happy  seasons." 

"  Friday,  Oct.  24. — This  evening  twenty-six  persons  met 
at  my  bouse  and  related  what  the  Lord  had  done  for  their 
souls.  Their  exercises  were  peculiarly  clear  and  satisfac- 
tory ;  nearly  all  trace  back  their  convictions  or  their  deci- 
sive impressions  to  the  four  days'  meeting;  and  a  consider- 
able number  spoke  of  the  happy  effect,  which  going  for- 
ward to  the  anxious  se::ts  had  upon  them." 

"  Tuesday,  Get.  28. — I  find  that  Christians  enjoyed  last 
Sabbath  evening  to  a  high  degree;  some  say  they  never  had 
such  feelings  and  views  before;  some  say  they  feel  as  if 
they  were  just  beginning  to  live.  I  hear  of  new  proofs  of 
the  engagedness  of  the  members — going  out  to  the  high- 
ways and  hedges,  &x. ;  some  went  up  to  the  West  end. 
The  Wednesday  night  meetings  have  been  already  blest. 
Some  of  the  young  female  members  have  lately  agreed  to 
meet  alone  and  pray  for  their  fathers  and  for  others,  and  last 

*  See  Appendix. 


180  MEMOIR    OF 


Early  i  rayer.  A  young  Catholic. 

Monday  evening  they  had  a  most  interesting  meeting. 
Since  Sabbath  we  hive  ascertained  that  about  half  a  dozen 
have  made  up  their  minds  to  serve  the  Lord  and  have  hope 
— some    are   rejoicing — others   are  under  much    concern." 

"Nor.  11. — Rose  at  1  (/clock  and  had  a  pleasant  season 
in  prayer;  feel  my  soul  humbled  and  strengthened  by  com- 
munion with  God,  and  more  devoted  to  Him  and  to  his 
cause  than  1  ever  was  before.  This  feeling  has  been 
increasing  for  some  time  past.  I  was  led  to  pray  this  morn- 
ing lor  our  country  in  all  her  interests — especially  that  the 
Lord  would  direct  those  events  which  have  a  bearing  upon 
the  presidential  election,  and  overrule  all  so  as  to  promote 
his  own  glory  and  the  cause  of  religion;  also  that  He 
would  raise  up  many  ministers  of  the  right  spirit,  and  with 
suitable  qualifications  to  preach  the  Gospel  to  every  crea- 
ture. I  have  felt  desires  lately,  more  than  ever,  that  the 
Lord  would  break  down  those  walls  which  separate  the 
Churches  of  Christ,  especially  in  this  town,  and  give  to 
them  a  spirit  of  co-operation." 

"  Nov.  1!). — Miss  P was   awakened  by  a  few  words 

I  spoke  to  her  alter  the  lecture  on  the  preceding  Thursday 
evening.  1  did  not  know  her  at  the  time,  and  had  totally 
forgotten  the  circumstance." 

"  Yesterday  evening  a  youth  came  to  my  house,  and 
in  a  very  earnest  and  frank  manner  said,  '  Mr.  Walton, 
I  have  come  to  receive  your  instructions.  I  have  been 
a  Catholic — was  confirmed  about  a  week  or  two  ago, 
but  I  have  been  reading  the  history  of  Andrew  Dunn,  and 
it  has  led  me  to  see  that  T  am  all  wrong.      The  example  of 

Mr.  with  whom  I  live,  has  made  a  strong   impression 

upon  my  mind — I  see  he  is  a  good  man — 1  see  no  such 
religion   among  the  Catholics — I  believe  I  am  as  wood  as 

to  a  o 

most  of  them,  and  I  know  I  am  very  wicked,  but  1  want  to 
be  good ;  and  to  understand  the  scriptures,' — and  a  good 
deal  more  he  said." 

"  This  afternoon  conversed  with  a  Mrs. who  appears 

to  have  experienced  a  change.  For  nine  years  she  never 
entered  a  Church,  and  at  length  she  says,  she  hated  the 
very  name  of  Church.  But  within  the  last  five  weeks  she 
has  experienced  a  happy  change.  She  has  long  had  to 
struggle  with  heavy  trials;  to  support  a  drunken,  deranged 
husband,  and  she  thought  that  as  her  sins  had  not  been 
great,  her  sufferings  and  trials   here  would  be  a   sufficient 


WILLIAM     C.     WALTON.  181 


The  work  extends  to  Washington.  Necessitj  <.i  ;i  liolj  Influence  there. 

punishment;  bul  she  was  not  entirely  easy.  Now  she  says 
site  would  rather  be  in  her  situation  with  the  hope  of  the 
gospel,  than  to  have  the  wealth  of  Croesus,  or  the  whole 
world,  and  be  as  she  was  five  weeks  ago." 

Is  there  a  spectacle  on  earth,  which  for  moral  beauty 
can  be  compared  with  that  of  which  a  sketch  is  given  in 
the  following  extract  ? 

"  Nov.  '2'2. — Airs.  R ,  in  consequence  of  the  pecu- 
liar blessings  bestowed  upon  her  family,  set  apart  this  day 
for  thanksgiving  and  prayer,  and  called  together  her  neigh- 
bors and  friends,  saying,  *  rejoice  with  me  for  I  have  found 
my  children  who  were  lost.  They  were  all  called  upon  to 
relate  what  the  Lord  had  done  for  their  souls.  We  then  had 
three  prayers.  This  evening  the  company  was  enlarged. 
We  bad  quite  a  room  full  and  spent  the  time  very  pleasantly. 
All  were  members  of  the  Church  except  two  or  three  little 
children,  and  all  appeared  to  be  happy  in  religion." 

In  consequence  of  the  revival  of  religion  and  the  multi- 
plication of  converts  in  Alexandria,  similar  efforts  were 
made  in  Washington,  with  happy  results.  Among  these 
results,  was  the  formation  of  the  Fourth  Presbyterian 
Church  in  that  city,  where  many,  many  souls  have  been 
born  into  the  kingdom  of  Christ.  The  influence  of  the 
revivals  of  that  winter  was  felt  to  the  very  seats  of  power, 
and  it  was  believed  among  Christians,  that  important 
restraints  were  thrown  by  the  Spirit  of  God  around  public 
men,  at  a  time  when  party  spirit  ran  high,  and  almost  threat- 
ened the  destruction  of  the  government.  Congress  is  a 
kind  of  great  political  gulf  that  almost  swallows  up  every 
thing  good,  spiritual,  and  holy,  and  hence  the  formidable 
difficulties  with  which  Christians  and  Christian  ministers 
have  to  contend  in  that  region.  The  prayers  of  all  Ameri- 
can Christians  should  continually  ascend  on  their  behalf. 

Mr.  Walton  was  called  to  assist  in  protracted  meetings 
both  at  Washington  and  in  Baltimore.  "  Brother  Nevins 
16 


182  MEMOIR    OF 


Called  in  similar  meetings  in  Baltimore. 


and  Brcckenridgo  were  present,"  he  saya  at  the  mooting  in 
Baltimore.  "  Some  interesting  cases  of  conversion,  occur- 
red— upwards  of  sixty  appeared  determined  to  seek  salva- 
tion, and  the  Church  were  much  awakened. 

During  this  visit,  Mr.  Walton,  with  a  kind  of  parental 
liberality,  subscribed  $300  towards  extinguishing  the 
Church  debt  of  his  former  society,  and  obtained  from  a 
Christian  friend  $50  more,  besides  a  promise  from  him 
to  render  them  additional  aid  by  way  of  exertion. 

"Dec.  26. — This  day  most  of  oar  members  have  set 
apart  for  fasting  and  prayer.  It  is  the  beginning  of  our 
communion  season."  At  this  communion  nine  were  ad- 
mitted to  the  Church.  Thus  closed  the  year — a  '  year  of 
the  right  hand  of  the  Most  High;'  lal  orious,  lint  delightful 
for  the  pastor,  who  had  been  continually  engaged  in  gather- 
ing in  Christ's  lambs,  and  preparing  many  crowns  of  rejoi- 
cing for  the  great  day  of  the  Lord. 

"  Oh  that  each  in  t ho  day 

Of  his  coming  may  say, 

I  have  fought  my  way  through  ; 

I  have  finished  the  work  thou  did'st  give  me  to  do. 

Oh  that  each  from  his  Lord, 

May  rm  |ve  the  glad  word, 

'  Well  and  faithfully  done  ! 

Enter  into  my  joy,  and  ail  down  on  my  throne ! ' '' 

It  may  be  proper  here  to  subjoin  one  or  two  letters 
written  by  our  departed  friend  during  the  year  1828,  so 
distinguished  for  ministerial  success,  and  cheerful,  happy 
obedience  to  the  commands  of  his  Lord  and  Master.  The 
last  in  the  series  is  from  a  gentleman  of  original  mind,  who 
was  a  subject  of  the  revival  in  Alexandria.  It  contains 
valuable  hints  for  the  use  of  those,  who  would  do  good. 

"  Alexandria,  Aug.  23,  1828. 
"  Dear  Brother, 

"  I  acknowledge  that  I  am  now  indebted  to  you  a  long 
letter,  but  at  present  you  must  accept  of  a  short  one.  I 
need  not  tell  you  my  hands  are  full.     My  engagements  are 


WILLIAM    C.WALTON.  183 

Letter  descriptive  '>i  bli  E 

indeed  very  numerous  and  pressing,  so  much  so  that  I  have 
lately  been  seriously  affected  by  my  incessant  exertion. 
My  nervous  system  rec<  ived  a  violent  shock — or  perhaps  it 
W8£  the  natural  effect  of  loner  continued  excitement.  It 
was  overstrained.  1  suffered  unspeakably,  and  yet  so  inter- 
esting was  the  state  of  the  congregation  at  the  time,  that  I 
did  not  neglecl  one  meeting,  although  every  effort  appeared 
to  be  risking  all  that  is  precious  in  the  faculties  of  the 
mind.  It  seemed  as  if  reason  \v:;s  sometimes  tottering 
upon  its  throne.  My  experience  was  such,  that  I  am  now 
fully  convinced  that  we  can  set  no  hounds  to  the  misery 
which  God  could  inflict  upon  a  human  being  through  the 
medium  of  the  nervous  system  alone.  Sometimes  I  thought 
it  would  be  absolutely  necessary  to  leave  town  and  wander 
away  at  random  any  where,  no  difference  where,  provided 
my  mind  could  enjoy  a  state  of  entire  relaxation.  I  was 
urged  to  take  a  voyage.  But  such  was  the  state  of  things 
in  the  congregation  that  I  could  not  leave  them.  The 
result  has  been  more  favorable  than  any  one  acquainted  with 
my  case  could  have  anticipated.  My  nerves  have  hecome 
comparatively  steady  in  the  midst  of  labor  and  excitement, 
and  my  health  in  other  respects  is  about  as  good  as  usual. 
It  would  be  scepticism  not  to  acknowledge  the  good  hand 
of  God  in  all  this.  And  blessed  be  His  Name,  this  is  not 
the  only  mercy.  He  is  pouring  out  His  Spirit  upon  my 
people,  and  blessing  my  poor  labors  to  the  salvation  of  souls. 
I  could  fill  two  or  three  sheets  with  details  ;  but  my  nephew 
can  give  you  all  the  information  you  want." 

Alexandria,  Sept.  30,  1828. 
"  My  dear  Sister, 

Although  it  is  now  nearly  midnight,  I  will  take  a  few 
moments  to  write  to  you  ;  not  doubting,  but  that  it  will 
give  you  joy  to  hear  what  the  Lord  is  doing  among  us. 
Last  Sabbath  week  we  admitted  thirty  to  our  communion. 
It  was  the  most  solemn  time  we  have  ever  had.  Since 
then,  about  thirty  more  have  experienced  a  happy  change, 
and  are  now  rejoicing  in  God  their  Saviour,  and  I  presume 
there  are  between  thirty  and  fifty  who  are  anxious;  twenty 
one  came  out  and  took  the  anxious  seat  this  evening  at  a 
prayer  meeting — one  was  blest — two  or  three  were  blest 
last  night,  and  four  on  last  Sabbath  evening.     The  Lord  is 


184  M  e  m  o  in  of 


Letter  rram  ■  convert. 


indeed  appearing  in  His  glory  to  build  up  Zion  here,  and 
we  think  the  work  is  bnlj  begun.  Our  four  days'  meeting 
was  greatly  blest.  Brother  Patterson  and  Danforth  from 
Philadelphia,  and  brother  Posl  from  Washington  were  with 
us.  We  commenced  on  last  Thursday  evening  week,  and 
we  have  bad  meetings  everj  evening  since  thai  time,  and 
more  praying  than  we  have  ever  bad  before  in  the  same 
lenjxth  of  time.  Small  circles  of  male-  and  females  get 
together,  each  separately,  and  pray  frequently.  To  mor- 
row night  we  have  appointed  five  meetings  in  different  parts 
of  the  town.  We  call  upon  those  who  are  determined  to 
seek  salvation,  to  come  forward  to  a  seat  appropriated  for 
them,  when  we  converse  and  pray  with  them.  This  meas- 
ure has  been  attended  with  the  happiest  effect.  The  work 
is  spreading — a  number  of  Christians  from  Washington 
came  over  to  attend  our  late  meeting,  and  have  returned 
with  such  feelings  as  have  kindled  a  fire  in  that  cold  city  ; 
there  is  already  the  beginning  of  a  revival  in  brother  P's 
congregation." 

Washington,  Nov.  7,  1828. 
"  Dear  Sir, 

I  need  not  assure  you  that  our  late  interviews  have  left  a 
most  pleasing  recollection  upon  my  mind.  I  have  associa- 
ted your  image  with  its  best  and  holiest  exercises.  I  trust 
that  our  good  Master  has  made  you  to  me  a  messenger  of 
peace  and  an  instrument  of  blessing;  and  you  well  know 
what  sort  of  affection  that  ever  produces  in  a  renewed 
heart.  I  write  now  to  tell  you  of  a  little  plan  I  have  adopt- 
ed for  my  own  use,  and  to  suggest  the  inquiry  whether  it 
might  not  be  advantageous  to  others.  I  am  persuaded  that 
many  of  our  prayers  fail  of  receiving  such  an  answer  as 
we  could  desire,  from  our  own  neglect  to  expect  and  wait 
for  an  answer.  We  make  the  prayer,  and  that  is  the  end 
of  the  matter;  we  even  forget  what  we  asked — how  then  can 
we  say  with  David  '  I  will  wait  and  look  up'?  Now  I 
have  thought  that  one  help  toward  preventing  this,  would 
be  to  keep  a  memorandum  of  things  prayed  for.  This 
would  have  an  influence  in  rendering  our  prayers  more  defi- 
nite— in  fixing  them  more  deeply  on- our  memory  and  feel- 
ings, and  hence  rendering  us  more  anxious  and  importu- 
nate, and  prompting  us  the  more  to  accompany  our  prayers 
with  corresponding  efforts,  without  which  they  partake  of  the 


WILLIAM     C .     WALTON 


185 


A  plail    for  >:i\  in;;  ii  BOUl, 


character  of  blasphemy.  Willi  ;i  view  to  these  ends  1  have 
made  myself  what  I  denominate  a  Record  of  Prayer.  It 
consists  of  three  parts  :  I.  A  memorandum  of  the  date  of 
tin-  prayers.  2.  A  record  of  i In-  exertions  accompanying 
them;  and  ^5.  Of  the  result  in  Providence.  Fur  example: 
I  set  my  heart  on  the  conversion  of  a  certain  individual. 
His  name  is  then  inserted  on  the  top  of  one  of  the  pages 
of  my  record,  like  an  account  in  a  leger.  la  the  left  hand 
columns  I  note  my  prayers  for  that  object,  minuting  the 
place  and  time.  In  the  next  column,  a  memorandum  fol- 
lows of  conversations,  (riving  of  Tracts,  invitations  to 
meeting,  prayers  with  him,  and  little  schemes  to  entrap  las 
soul  for  truth  and  heaven.  Then  comes  the  most  interest- 
ing and  solemn  part  of  the  record  in  the  apparent  conse- 
quences. Would  not  such  a  record,  if  in  the  hands  of  every 
praying  man,  incite  him  to  duty,  and  make  him  a  watcher 
of  Providence  i  " 


FOR     PETER      CARELESS 


Prayers. 


Efforts. 


Oct.  6. — Alone. 

Oct.  8. — In  prayer 

meeeting. 
Oct.  9.— Alone. 


Oct.  12.— Inch'ch. 


Oct.  14. — Alone  ; 
with  much  lib- 
erty. 

Oct.  15. — Alone  ; 
and  also  in  fami- 
ly worship. 


1G* 


Talked  to  him 
with  caution. 

Gave  him  Tract 
No.  G. 

Inquired  of  his 
brother  George  as 
to  the  effect. 

Find  he   doubts 
the  truth  of  eternal 
punishment  ; 
him  Tract  No.  1-3. 

Called  on  him 
and  had  a  close 
conversation. 

Called  again  and 
prayed  with  him. 

Engaged  A.  B. 
and  C.  D.  to  pray 
for  him. 


He  was  civil,  but 
cold. 

He  shuns  me. 

He  looks  unhap- 
py- 
Disputed  warmly 
i-t  God's  jus- 
tice to  sinners. 

He    begins     to 
read. 

He   attends    the 
anxious  meeting. 

He  is  under  deep 
concern. 


1H0 

MEMOIR    OF    WALTON. 

Result  of  the  endeavor. 

Prayers. 

Efforts.                   1 

Results. 

October  20.— In 
prayer  meeting. 

Oct.  21.— Alone, 
twice  this  day. 


Lent    him  Dod 
dridge's   Rise  and 
Progress. 

Helped  him  to 
begin  family  wor- 
ship. 

Explained  the 
nature  of  church 
membership. 

Yours,  &c 


He  is  in  great 
doubts. 

He  has  obtained 
full  relief  and  re- 
joices. Sets  out  in 
a  Christian  course. 

Peter  Careless 
admitted  to  the 
church  this  day. 


W.  C.  Walton." 


CHAPTER     XI. 


Bishop  Hooper.  Kcmarkof  Addison. 

"Let  me  abound  in  good  works,"  said  Melancthon, 
"  and  I  care  not  who  abounds  in  riches."  Whatever  con- 
tributed to  the  advancement  or  the  retardation  of  the 
Redeemer's  kingdom,  either  in  his  own  heart  or  in  the 
hearts  of  others,  could  nut  fail  to  attract  the  attention  of 
William  C.  Walton.  Of  Hooper  it  was  said,  that  '"  he  had 
a  sound  judgment  and  a  good  conscience,  was  sparing 
of  his  diet  and  his  words,  but  still  more  so  of  his  time,  yet 
was  hospitable  and  liberal."  The  description  is  exact 
when  applied  to  our  beloved  brother.  Whether  he  eat  or 
drank,  or  whatever  he  did,  it  seemed  to  be  for  the  glory  of 
God.  He  was  no  jester.  He  was  a  serious  man.  "  It  must 
indeed  be  confessed,  that  levity  of  temper  takes  a  man  off 
his  guard,  and  opens  a  pass  to  his  soul  for  any  temptation 
that  assails  it.  It  favors  all  the  approaches  of  vice,  and 
weakens  all  the  resistance  of  virtue.  For  which  reason,  a 
renowned  statesman  in  Queen  Elizabeth's  days,  after  having 
retired  from  court  and  public  business,  in  order  to  give 
himself  up  to  the  duties  of  religion,  when  any  of  his  old 
friends  used  to  visit  him,  had  still  this  word  of  advice  in 
his    mouth,  '  Be    serious.'       *       *       *        A  man  should 


188                                             MEMOIR     OF 

Writes  Theological  Treatises. 

Where  at  home. 

not  live  as  if  there  wera  n<>  God  in  the  world,  nor  at  the 
same  time,  as  if"  then'  were  no  men  ill  it."* 

The  subject  ofthis  memoir  lived  and  labored  for  eternity. 
Each  revolving  pear  was  diligently  improved,  and  whether 
with  greater  or  less  apparent  success,  still  he  was  contri- 
ving ways  of  doing  something  to  promote  holiness,  destroy 
sin,  and  glorify  God,  and  that  in  the  midst  of  severe,  if  not 
peculiar  'rials. 

"March  29,  1829.— Yesterday,  (Sabbath,)  I  was  carried 
through  the  duties  of  the  sanctuary  in  a  manner  quite 
beyond  my  expectations.  I  had  much  liberty  and  feeling, 
and  others  felt  along  with  me.  At  nig  it  1  retired  much 
exhausted,  and  found  that  I  had  not  recovered  from  that 
nervous  affection  which  almost  killed  me  last  fall.  J  feel  it 
most  sensibly  when  weakened  by  excitement,  and  when  I 
hear  of  any  disaster  happening  to  others.'' 

"  I  have  durin  r  the  last  week  been  emploj  ed  in  preparing 
one  of  a  series  of  theological  discussions  which  I  design  to 
publish,  if  I  am  spared  to  finish  them.  Although  1  hive 
very  little  time,  and  that  little  much  int<  rrupted,  yet  I  am 
determined  to  go  on  with  tliis  undertaking,  and  to  do  as 
much  as  1  can  every  week." 

"  April  13. — Yesterday,  (Sabbath.)  we  administered  the 

sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper.     Brother  1) preiched. 

It  was  a  good  time.      I  tru^t  the  <■  profit- 

able.    Last  Friday  I  attended  the  Annivi  tfthe  Bible 

Society  of  this  place,    and   made  a 

attended  the  Anniversary  of  the  Sunday  School  Union,  and 
read  the  report.  I  still  feel  out  of  my  element  when  called 
to  act  in  such  meetings,  as  I  always  do  in  Ecclesiastical 
bodies.  I  never  feel  so  much  at  home  as  when  I  am  in  the 
pulpit,  or  in  a  prayer  meeting,  or  in  conversation  with  sin- 
ners about  the  concerns  of  their  souls." 

"The  number  admitted  to  the  communion  of  this  Church 
since  I  came  here  is  now  140.     'Who  h  th  >tten  me 

these?'     Verily  it  is  the  Lord's  doing  ;   and  i  suae  be 

the  glory!" 

"  April  20. —  Yesterday  I  performed  the  funeral  service 

*  Addison. 


WILLIAM     C .     WALTON.  1 80 

Death  bed  of  a  <  Christian.  Work  on  Divine  Sovereignty. 

of  our  aged  and  beloved  brother  Capt.  W.  II.  He  retained 
the  entire  possession  of  his  faculties  to  the  last.  1  was 
frequently  with  him  during  his  illness,  and  I  saw  him  die. 
The  scene  has  been  a  very  instructive  one  to  me;  and  it 
encourages  me  in  the  work  in  which  I  am  engaged,  to  see 
those  who  have  been  benefitted  by  my  ministry  dying  so 
happily.  During  the  late  revival  he  was  deeply  interested. 
His  mind  was  brought  more  entirely  under  the  influence  of 
the  Gospel  than  ever  before.  His  piety  bad  appeared  to  be 
doubtful,  and  he  was  once  disciplined  by  the  Church.  But 
since  the  revival  commenced,  he  has  evinced  much  enga- 
gedness  and  much  spirituality  of  mind.  He  observed  to 
his  <  hildren,  thai  since  he  had  received  my  views  of  doc- 
trine, the  Scriptures  appeared  more  intelligible  to  him  than 
ever  before,  and  bis  religious  character  was  greatly  impro- 
ved. During  his  illness  his  mind  was  calm,  and  apparently 
never  obscured  by  a  cloud.  He  spoke  of  death  with  evi- 
dent satisfaction — sometimes  with  a  smile.  He  blessed  all 
his  children  and  grand-children,  and  sent  messages  to  those 
that  were  absent ;  giving  to  each  admonitions  suited  to  their 
respective  characters.  In  the  evening  I  preached  from 
these  words,  '  Thou  wilt  keep  him  in  perfect  peace  whose 
mind  is  stayed  on  thee.' 

"  Hearing  of  the  excitement  now  existing  in  England 
among  the  Dissenters  on  the  subject  of  revivals,  I  wrote  a 
long  communication  which  I  have  sent  to-day  to  the  Editor 
of  the  London  Evangelical  Magazine,  together  with  a  num- 
ber of  my  pamphlets  and  some  other  documents,  praying 
that  the  blessing  of  God  may  accompany  them." 

This  communication  was  published  in  the  Evangelical 
Magazine. 

"  May  10. — I  have  been  enabled  to  complete  my  manu- 
script on  the  Doctrine  of  Divine  Sovereignty,  &c.  just  in 
time  to  take  it  on  with  me  to  the  North;  and  I  trust  I  do 
feel  sincerely  thankful  for  the  light  which  God  has  given 
me  on  that  subject,  and  for  the  help  obtained  from  Him  in 
preparing  that  little  volume.  When  I  read  it  over,  it  appears 
to  be  something  beyond  my  strength  ;  and  I  have  strong 
hope  of  its  being,  under  the  Divine  blessing,  extensively 
useful.     I  have  often  examined  my  motives  in  writing  it, 


190  MEMOIR     OF 


Journey  to  the  North.  Sickness  at  Hartford. 

and  I  feel   satisfied   thai    the  greal    ruling    motive  is   to 

advance  the  cause  of  truth  and  righteousness.  Oilier  mo- 
tives have  at  times  been  suggested  as  I  have  passed  along, 
but  they  have  uol  gained  the  ascendency;  nor  do  1  think 
they  have  much  influence  over  my  habitual  feelings.  My 
great  desire  is  i<>  be,  and  to  conduct  myself  among  my 
brethren,  as  an  humble,  devoted  servant  of  Jesus  Christ. 
1  have  earnestly  implored  his  pre-,  rt<  e  with  me  during  my 
absence  from  home,  and  praj  d  that  He  would  not  leave 
me  to  myself,  to  indulge  those  motives  and  feelings  which 
would  offend  -Him  and  bring  guill  upon  my  own  soul.  I 
have  often,  and  this  morning  <r  !  distinctly,  and. I  hope, 
unreservedly  give  up  my  child  eh,  and  especially  my  son 
Willian  i  am  about  to  take  to  a  school  in  Massachu- 

setts, to  I:  rid  devote  them  to  His   glory — desiring 

nothing  for  them  in  comparison  of  his  favor,  and  that  they 
may  know,  and  love,  and  serve  Him.  I  have  ajso  commit- 
ted my  dear  wife  and  family,  and  church  to  the  care  and 
mercy  of  God,  imploring  upon  them  all  every  blessing  that 
Infinite  Wisdom  may  see  best  for  them." 

"June  12. — I  have  lately  returned  from  my  journey  to 
the  North.  It  has  be.  n  a  trying  time  to  me.  I  was  taken 
sick  in  Hartford,  Conn,  and  confined  for  a  week  :  had  sev- 
eral slight  i  n  travellin  torated  blood  several 
times,  often  in  a  state  of  extreme  weakness  and  nervous 
agitation,  I  suffered  unsj  bad  little  prospect  of 
recovery;  my  mind  was  constantly — while  the  fever  lasted 
— disposed  to  dwell  upon  the  dark  side;  to  think  of  cases 
which  1  had  known,  or  which  I  had  heard  of,  that  had  ter- 
minated fatally,  and  to  fancy  that  mine  was  likely  to  termi- 
nate in  the  same  way.  When  such  an  idea  would  strike 
me — and  this  was  very  often — it  agitated  my  whole  system. 
My  reason  was  not  impaired — but  it  had  not  strength  to 
resist  these  suggestions,  and  I  had  many  sore  conflicts  of 
this  nature.  Sometimes  I  could  do  nothing  but  pray,  or 
repeat  a  passage  of  Scripture,  and  hang  upon  that.  The 
one  which  1  repeated  most  frequently  was,  '  Sufficient  unto 
the  day  is  the  evil  thereof.'  Such  a  state  of  the  nervous 
system  gives  Satan  a  great  advantage  over  the  mind,  and  he 
can,  if  permitted,  torture  and  worry  a  Christian  most  awfully. 
I  know  enough  of  the  physical  constitution  of  man,  to  know 
that  the  imagination  may  sometimes  produce  the  very  dis- 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  191 

V  isilH  Old  I'.iinl  <  'uinliirt. 


cares  which  arc.  painfully  apprehended,  and  this  increaei  d 
my  danger.  I  was  aware  of  it,  and  it  agitated  me  still 
more.  1  have  often  felt  this  at  other  times  ;  and  very  little 
can  be  done  hy  reasoning  against  it.  Nothing  but  an 
Omnipotent  arm  can  support  the  individual  who  is  thus 
mult  r  the  power  of  nervous  excitement.  I  cried  unto  the 
Lord,  ae.d  I  believe  he  heard  me,  and  delivered  me  from  all 
my  fears.  In  travelling  1  had  frequenl  returns  of  great 
weakness,  and  sometimes  of  fever.  This  would  generally 
affect  my  nervous  system  in  the  same  way.  1  felt  as  if  a 
very  little  more  would  crush  me.  Hut  the  Lord  has  brought 
me  home,  and  preserved  and  blest  my  family  in  my  absence. 
And  here  with  humble  gratitude  1  would  erect  my  Ebene- 
zer,  saying,  Hitherto  hath  the  Lord  helped  me." 

During  this  journey,  he  was  rejoiced  to  hear  from  differ- 
ent ministers,  that  his  pamphlet  on  revivals  had  been  blest 
as  a  means  of  three  or  four  revivals  within  their  knowledge. 
'In  the  morning  sow  thy  seed,  and  in  the  evening  withhold 
not  thy  hand,  for  thou  knowest  not  whether  shall  prosper, 
either  this  or  that,  or  whether  they  both  shall  be  alike 
good.' 

In  the  month  of  July,  he  visited  Old  Point  Comfort,  to 
recruit,  if  possible,  his  exhausted  powers,  by  means  of  the 
sea-air  and  sea-bathing,  With  the  usual  imprudence  of 
zealous  and  devoted  men  in  matters  of  bodily  health,  he 
preached  on  both  Sabbaths  during  his  absence,  and  thus 
counteracted  whatever  salubrious  influences  were  improving 
his  health.  To  relieve  his  health  and  spirits,  he  commen- 
ced writing  a  small  book,  called  Dialogues  on  the  Ten 
Commandments,  which  he  completed  and  sent  to  the  press 
after  his  return. 

"  I  have  a  hope,"  says  he,  "  that  this  little  work  will,  by 
the  blessing  of  God,  be  made  very  useful  to  the  rising  gene- 
ration." 

"  July  25. — I  have  lately  had  strong  desires  to  be  exten- 
sively useful,  and  under  a  deep  sense  of  my  un worthiness, 


102  HEMOIR     OF 


•  1 1 < >ui  correspond  ince. 


to  be  employed  as  an  instrument  of  good.  I  have  entreated 
the  Lord  to  Bpare  rnej  and  forgive  my  man]  sins,  and  make 
use  of  me  as  an  instrument  of  accomplishing  great  good. 
I  had  this  exercise  in  an  unusual  degree  while  residing  in 
Washington  City.  I  believe  that  He  is  able  to  restore  me 
to  health,  and  to  im  igorate  both  body  and  mind,  and  to  open 
fields  of  usefulness  before  me,  and  to  enable  me  to  cultivate 
them  to  I li<  glorj ." 

"■July  31. — Li>t  Sabbath  I  forgot  myself  and  preached 
one  hour  and  a  quarter  :  perspired  very  profusely — lost  my 
appetite — and  was  very  near  having  a  chill  after  dinner. 
Attended  a  funeral  at  half-past  three,  and  a  prayer  meeting 
at  four  o'clock,  and  preached  at  night  with  unusual  lib- 
erty." 

A  remark  made  by  our  brother  in  reference  to  one  of  the 
bodily  attacks  to  which  he  was  exposed/ ought  not  perhaps 
to  be  here  omitted  :  "I  experienced  just  now  what  I  had 
often  experienced  before,  much  benefit  to  my  body,  as  well 
as  to  my  soul,  from  the  exercise  of  irrcstling  in  prayer." 

Some  extracts  from  the  correspondence  of  Mr.  Walton 
with  eminent  ministers  at  home  and  abroad,  may  here  be 
appropriately  introduced. 

To  Dr.  mil  of  Winchester. 

Alexandria,  Aug.  5,  1829. 
"  Rev.  and  Dear  Sir, 

Since  my  return  from  the  North,  at  the  request  of  Mr. 
Bacon,  who  was  here  establishing  an  Infant  School,  I  have 
written  another  little  work  for  Infant  and  Sabbath  Schools 
in  dialogues.  It  is,  I  presume,  published  by  this  time,  but 
I  have  not  yet  received  any  copies  of  it.  Thus  you  see, 
that  although  I  have  given  up  the  practice  of  writing  ser- 
mons, I  still  retain  my  fondness  for  the  pen.  It  has  often 
been  my  earnest  prayer,  that  the  Lord  would  teach  me  in 
what  way  I  may  do  most  for  the  advancement  of  his  cause, 
and  I  think  I  have  been  led  in  this  way  ;  and  I  find  that  so 
far  from  lessening  the  usefulness  of  my  preaching,  by  wri- 
ting other  things  instead  of  sermons,  my  preaching  has 
never  before  been  so  much  blessed.     The  revival  has  pro- 


WIT,  IjIAM    C.WALTON.  103 

Letter  to  Dr.  Hill.  From  Dr.  Rico. 

grossed  among  us  until  nearly  all  who  attend  our  Church 
have  hecoine  professors  of  religion  ;  at  least,  the  proportion 
of  non-communicants  is  so  small,  that  if  they  were  to  leave 
the  church,  they  would  not  be  much  missed.  We  want,  as 
Mr.  N.  expresses  it,  a  new  crop.  By  the  way,  J  saw 
Mr.  N.  when  I  was  at  Hartford.  J  was  confined  there  l>y 
sickness  for  a  week,  during  which  time  he  visited  me  dairy ; 
and  although  I  could  only  get  out  to  hear  him  preach  once, 
I  heard  much  of  his  interesting  conversation.  There  was  a 
revival  in  Hartford,  and  he  expected  to  remain  there  some 
time.  I  took  my  little  son  to  the  Mount  Pleasant  Gymnas- 
tic Institution,  with  which  I  was  highly  pleased.  It  is  loca- 
ted at  Amherst,  in  Massachusetts.  I  was  much  interested 
with  almost  every  thing  that  characterizes  New  England, 
and  I  could  fraternize  delightfully  with  their  evangelical 
clergy.       *       *       * 

We  arc  surrounded  with  comforts  ;  not  the  least  of  them 
is  the  sight  of  so  many  monuments  of  Divine  grace,  saved 
by  our  unworthy  instrumentality.  Nearly  150  members 
have  been  added  to  our  church  since  I  came  here  ;  and 
there  are  still  some  inquirers. 

Yours  affectionately, 

W.  C.  Walton." 

From  Dr.  J.  H.  Rice. 

Union  Seminary,  Aug.  21,  1829. 
"  My  Brother  Walton, 

*  *  *  In  regard  to  the  matter  of  bringing  for- 
ward men  in  an  irregular  way,  on  which  you  consulted  me, 
my  opinion  is  this,  that  the  Presbyteries  ought  continually 
to  hold  up  before  the  young  sons  of  the  church,  a  high 
standard  of  intellectual  attainment  ;  and  let  them  feel  that 
they  must  come  up  to  it.  Yet  as  our  book  allows  the  exer- 
cise of  a  discretionary  power  in  extraordinary  cases,  I  think 
that  Presbyteries,  using  proper  precautions,  ought  to  feel 
themselves  at  liberty  to  act  in  conformity  to  this  provision. 
The  harvest  is  great,  but  the  laborers  are  few.  If  then, 
men  of  a  very  high  standard  of  piety,  of  good  minds,  of 
prudence  and  respectable  attainments,  giving  evidence  too 
of  a  strong  desire  of  improvement,  seek  the  ministry,  I  am 
of  opinion  that  Presbyteries  ought  to  encourage  them  to 
17 


194  MEMOIR    or 


Letter  from  Dr  Speece. 


come  forward  ;  take  the  direction  of  them  ;  and  nfter  keep- 
ing them  on  trial  long  enough  to  make  thorough  proof  of 
their  aptness  to  teach,  if  they  be  not  wanting  in  the  impor- 
tant qualifications  of  a  minister,  to  license  them  to  preach. 
And  this,  although  they  cannot  go  to  the  Seminary  and 
take  a  regular  course. 

In  general,  however,  we  wish  those  who  come  to  us,  to 
come  resolved  to  stay  three  years.  Lads  are  very  anxious 
to  get  out,  and  try  their  hand  in  preaching;  and  often  they 
do  so,  before  they  are  ready.  After  a  while,  they  wish  to 
come  back  and  study  longer.  But  their  successors  do  not 
often  profit  by  their  experience.  *  *  * 
Your's  most  affectionately, 

J.  II.  Rice." 

From  Rev.  Conrad  Sj 

Augusta,  Va.,  Sept.  30,  1829. 
"  Dear  Brother, 

About  a  week  ago,  on  my  way  to  a  meeting  of  our  Pres- 
bytery, I  received  your  letter  of  the  15th  inst.,  and  the  vol- 
ume which  accompanied  it.  Until  I  <,rf)t  home,  it  was  out 
of  my  power  to  read  the  book,  small  as  it  is;  but  1  have 
now  read  it,  and  sit  down  to  give  you  some  account  of  the 
impression  which  it  made  upon  my  mind. 

The  composition  is  perspicuous,  neat,  and  spirited;  and 
I  do  not  see  how  any  one  could,  in  so  narrow  a  compass, 
have  given  a  more  comprehensive  view  of  the  subjects 
which  you  have  discussed.  As  to  the  sentiments,  they 
are  completely  mine,  and  have  been  so  for  at  least  five  and 
twenty  years.  1  acquired  them  from  a  good  deal  of  reading, 
combined  with  some  thinking;  and  especially,  as  I  believe, 
from  the  writings  of  the  excellent  Andrew  Fuller.  These 
principles  I  take  to  be  very  generally  held  and  inculcated 
by  our  ministers  in  Virginia;  at  the  risk  of  being  branded, 
by  certain  of  our  Northern  brethren,  as  Ilopkinsians; 
which,  however,  is  a  trifle  lighter  than  air,  provided  we 
have  truth  on  our  side.  For  my  part,  I  have  no  conception 
how  the  gospel  of  Christ  can  be  either  preached  or  received 
with  consistency  and  advantage,  where  materially  different 
apprehensions  are  cherished  of  the  sovereignty  of  God,  and 
the  moral  responsibility  of  man.       *       *       * 


WILLIAM     C.     WALTON.  195 

Prom  Rev.  H.  F.  Burden 

Will  you  allow  me  without  giving  you  pain,  to  ask 
whether  you  do  not  overrate  the  ignorance  of  our  preach- 
ers, for  whom  you  seem  mainly  to  have  written,  hy  the 
implication  that  they  are  not  already  substantially  acquaint- 
ed with  the  doctrines  and  arguments  which  you  have  advan- 
ced? Be  this  as  it  may,  I  wish  that  thousands  of  the  peo- 
ple would  read  your  treatise,  with  their  considering  caps 
well  fastened  ahout  their  heads. 

I  rejoice  to  learn  that  God  has  so  largely  hlessed  your 
labors  in  his  cause.  In  this  valley,  with  no  exception,  so 
far  as  I  know,  we  are  involved  in  a  long,  dreary  spiritual 
winter.  There  is  much  preaching;  and  the  truth  is 
preached  faithfully.  Perhaps  we  are  deficient  in  our  con- 
versational  ministrations.  Deeply  deficient  we  must  be  in 
the  great  duty  of  fervent,  persevering  prayer  for  the  effusion 
of  the  life  giving  Spirit  of  God.  *  *  * 
Your's  in  all  brotherly  affection, 

Conrad  Speece." 

From  Rev.  II.  F.  Burder,  of  Iligliburg  College,  England. 

Hackney,  Nov.  4,  1829. 
"  Rev.  and  Dear  Sir, 

Accept  my  grateful  acknowledgments  for  your  very 
friendly  and  interesting  letter,  and  for  the  valuable  little 
volume  by  which  it  was  :  ccompanied.  In  the  general 
strain  of  your  remarks  I  perfectly  and  cordially  coincide, 
and  cannot  but  attach  great  importance  to  the  views  on 
which  you  justly  lay  so  muc!  stress.  I  think  it  is  of  the 
utmost  importance  to  urge  i  pon  the  unbeliever  his  direct 
and  awful  responsibility,  and  am  in  the  habit  of  endeavor- 
ing to  do  this  constantly  in  the  discharge  of  my  ministry. 
*  *  *  May  the  Spirit  of  God  render  your  book 
extensively  useful.  I  have  been  much  interested  in  reading 
some  discourses  of  your  countryman,  Dr.  Griffin,  who 
maintains  the  same  views  and  with  great  strength  of  argu- 
ment. 

I  had  the  pleasure  of  receiving,  a  year  ago  I  think,  your 
Narrative  of  a  Revival.  1  was  very  much  struck  and  im- 
pressi  1  with  it,  and  inserted  an  extract  from  it  in  the  Evan- 
gelical Magazine.  No  subject  interests  me  more  deeply. 
We  are  longing  and  praying  for  similar  effusions  of  the 
Holy  Spirit.     Perhaps,  among  us,  the  indications  of  a  gen- 


190  MEMOIR     OF 


State  of  1 4-liiiion  in  England. 


uine  Revival  would  not  be  precisely  of  the  same  character. 
Perhaps  there  would  be  varieties,  growing  out  of  differences 
in  our  national  character,  and  the  peculiar  state  of  society 
among  us.  Already  not  a  lew  of  our  ministers  and  church- 
es perceive  symptoms  which  are  highly  encouraging — an 
increased  attendance  on  Divine  ordinances — more  fixed  and 
serious  attention — more  of  the  spirit  of  prayer — a  greater 
number  of  instances  of  true  conversion,  and  a  more  prom- 
ising state  of  feeling  among  the  young.  About  a  hundred 
have  been  added  to  our  church  here  in  the  last  two  years, 
and  we  have  between  two  and  three  hundred  young  per- 
sons in  the  Bible  classes.  Pray  for  us,  my  dear  sir,  that 
the  Spirit  may  be  poured  out  upon  us  from  on  high  !  It 
will  give  us  peculiar  pleasure  to  be  favored  with  your  cor- 
respondence on  these  interesting  subjects,  although  my  pas- 
toral engagements,  added  to  those  at  Highbury  College, 
leave  me  but  little  time  for  writing.  Wishing  you  the  best 
of  all  spiritual  blessings,  and  hoping  again  to  hear  from  you, 
I  am,  my  dear  brother  in  the  Lord 
Your's  very  cordially, 

II.    F.    BlJRDKR." 

We  return  to  some  extracts  from  the  diary  : 

"Aug.  12. — Still  much  indisposed  and  very  feeble — know 
not  what  to  do,  but  feel  as  if  I  could  not  live  long.  The 
prospect  at  least  appears  very  unfavorable.  I  am  trying  to 
get  into  that  state  of  mind,  in  which  my  comfort  shall  not 
depend  upon  the  prospect  of  my  continuing  in  this  world. 
I  know  that  I  ought  to  hud  my  happiness  in  doing  and  in 
submitting  to  the  will  of  God.  I  know  that  He  will  spare 
me  until  I  shall  have  accomplished  what  lie  has  for  me  to 
do,  and  when  that  is  done,  I  ought  to  rejoice  in  giving 
place  to  others,  who  may  do  a  great  deal  more  for  the  cause 
of  Christ  than  1  can  ever  do;  and  I  ought  to  have  a  desire 
to  depart  and  to  be  with  Christ,  which  is  far  better  than  any 
situation  in  which  I  can  be  placed  in  this  world.  This  I 
sometimes  feel  in  a  small  degree,  and  I  think  I  feel  more 
and  more  drawn  towards  Heaven,  as  the  delightful  home  of 
my  soul.  Lord  !  make  me  cheerful  under  my  afflictions,  and 
help  me  to  glorify  thee  both  living  and  dying.      Amen  !  " 

"One  night  last  week,  I  had  a  dreadful  conflict.  If  at 
such  times  the  Lord  were  to  forsake  me  and  let  the  devil 


WILLIAM     C.WALTON.  107 

Letter  to  his  nephew. 

loose  upon  ine,  I  think  I  could  not  survive  long.  There  is 
nothing  on  this  side  of  hell  which  1  deprecate  so  much. 
But  thanks  be  to  God,  He  does  not  forsake  me;  but  ena- 
bles me  to  stay  myself  upon  Him,  which  keeps  me  firm,  like 
one  holding  hy  an  immoveable  rock  in  the  midst  of  a  whirl- 
wind. During  the  whole  of  my  indisposition,  I  have  gen- 
erally enjoyed  more  of  the  spirit  of  prayer  than  I  think  I 
had  ever  enjoyed  before.  I  seldom  retire  in  the  morning, 
at  noon,  or  in  the  evening,  without  becoming  somewhat 
engaged  and  interested  in  the  duty  so  as  to  enjoy  it.  At 
noon  I  generally  pray  more  particularly  for  our  church  and 
for  the  salvation  of  sinners." 

"  Wednesday,  Nov.  3. — Our  four  days'  meeting  last  month 
has  been  followed  by  good  results.  The  prospect  is  bright- 
ening. Some  souls  have  experienced  a  change,  and  others 
are  inquiring.  Christians,  too,  appear  to  be  awake,  and 
to  feel  much  for  the  salvation  of  souls.  I  trust  the  Lod  has 
more  people  in  this  city." 


"  Alexandria,  Nov.  25,  1829. 

"  My  Dear  Nephew, 

*  *  *  By  the  blessing  of  God,  our  family  are  all  well. 
For  some  weeks,  i.  e.  since  our  last  four  days'  meeting,  I 
have  had  an  inflammation  in  my  throat,  which  obstructed  my 
speaking  so  much,  that  I  began  to  think  my  labors  in  the 
ministry  had  come  nearly  to  a  close.  During  that  time,  I 
received  two  or  three  letters  from  brother  P.  and  brother 
L.  of  Philadelphia,  urging  me  to  come  to  that  city  and  to 
edit  the  Philadelphian  and  another  little  periodical  con- 
nected with  it;  or  at  least,  to  take  some  part  in  the  busi- 
ness. At  length  I  concluded  to  go  on  and  to  look  at  the 
thing,  and  to  see  what  were  the  prospects,  &ic.     However, 

just  before  I  left  home,  brother  R.  and  Mr.  returned 

from  Occoquan,  a  village  sixteen  miles  from  here,  where 
brother  M.  resides,  and  gave  me  such  an  account  of  the 
state  of  things  at  that  place,  that  when  I  got  to  Baltimore 
and  saw  Mr.  L.  there,  I  concluded  to  return  and  visit 
Occoquan.  I  believe  it  was  of  the  Lord.  I  found  a  num- 
ber of  people  anxious  to  hear,  and  somewhat  concerned 
about  their  spiritual  condition.  They  crowded  our  meet- 
ings, and  at  the  close  of  the  last,  which  was  last  Sabbath,  I 
IT* 


198  MEMOIR    OF 


Interesting  scene  at  Occoquan. 


proposed  that  all  who  were  determined  immediately  to  seek 
salvation,  should  express  that  determination  by  going  down 
upon  their  knees.  Instantly  there  was  a  sinking  to  the 
floor  all  around  to  the  number  of  twenty-five  or  thirtj  per- 
sons! Since  that  time  I  understand  that  six  or  seven  have 
obtained  a  hope  ;  others  have  been  laughed  out  of  their 
concern.  But  still  the  work  is  going  on,  and,  I  hop,',  will 
goon  ;  though  it  meets  with  violent  opposition.  A  minis- 
ter there,  by  a  little  imprudence,  might  soon  bring  upon 
himself  something  like  the  fate  of  Stephen.  *  *  Brother 
M.  has  a  Sabbath  School  there  of  upwards  of  forty  schol- 
ars.    In  this  school  the  excitement  commenced."     *     * 

The  brother  thus  useful  at  Occoquan,  the  place  of  his 
abode,  was  once  an  infidel,  and  through  the  agency  of  Wal- 
ton was  snatched  from  the  grasp  of  the  enemy,  and  by  the 
Spirit  of  the  Lord  transformed  into  u  brave  soldier  of  the 
cross.  He  was  awakened  under  the  celebrated  sermon,  an 
account  of  which  is  given  in  the  preceding  chapter.  The 
man  who  was  the  agent  in  procuring  that  sermon  to  be 
preached,  has  gone  to  his  dread  account!  'I  will  have 
mercy  on  whom  1  will  have  mercy.' 

"Nov.  20. — I  feci  spiritually  benefitted  by  reading  Dick's 
Christian  Philosopher.  It  has  given  me  a  more  exalted 
conception  of  the  Supreme  Being  than  1  had  before.  In 
comparing  the  present  with  the  past,  I  find  that  I  am  more 
habitually  under  the  influence  of  religion;  I  have  more  of 
that  faith  which  realizes  things  invisible,  and  which  takes 
the  word  of  God  for  just  what  it  says  and  what  it  means." 

"  Dec.  14.  Yesterday  evening,  (Sabbath,)  I  was  unwell, 
and  never,  that  I  remember,  labored  under  more  difficulty 
in  preaching.  I  was  cramped  and  fettered.  I  had  no 
clearness  of  conception  no  command  of  language,  and  what 
made  it  worse,  I  was  u:>der  the  impression  while  preaching, 
that  every  body  thought  it  was  a  very  mean  discourse.  I 
was  ashamed  to  come  out  of  the  pulpit,  and  have  been 
ashamed  to  see  people  in  the  street  to-day.  This  is  my 
infirmity.  And  I  am  conscious  that  there  is  much  sin 
mingled  with  it,  for  which  I  have  tried  to  humble  myself 
before  God.  This  painful  experience  has,  I  trust,  been  in 
a  measure  sanctified  to  me." 


WILLIAM     C .     WALTON.  1 9t) 

die  diligent  labors. 

lie  closed  the  year  in  labors  abundant,  with  special  exer- 
tions for  the  salvation  of  sinners,  in  connexion  with  Rev. 
Mr.  Wilson,  of  Fredericksburg.  Speaking  of  his  visit  to 
that  place,  he  says,  "  The  meeting  was  on  the  whole  a  pleas- 
ant, and  I  hope  a  profitable  one.  I  was  strengthened  in 
body,  and  much  assisted  in  preaching  and  exhortation,  for 
which  1  felt  truly  grateful  to  the  'Giver  of  every  good  and 
perfect  gift.'  My  preaching  and  exhortation  together  would 
amount  to  at  least  ten  sermons,  from  Friday  until  Monday, 
besides  a  great  deal  of  conversation."  This  excessive  labor 
bore  hard  upon  his  health  ;  but  the  reader  is  by  this  time 
satisfied  that  Mr.  Walton  looked  upon  himself  as  a  "  livinu 
sacrifice,"  whoso  highest  honor  and  purest  pleasure  con- 
sisted in  being  "  holy,  acceptable  to  God."  To  the  next 
important  duty  of  taking  care  of  his  own  health  and  perpet- 
uating his  valuable  life,  he  seems  to  have  been  insensible. 

This  chapter  cannot  be  more  usefully  closed,  than  by 
presenting  to  the  reader  the  following  graphic  sketch,  by 
the  hand  of  our  lamented  friend,  of  occurrences  which  took 
place  under  his  eye,  and  in  which  he  was  deeply  engaged  : 
Let  it  be  called 

REMINISCENCES    OF    A    REVIVAL. 

"  In  one  family,  all  the  children,  consisting  of  five  daugh- 
ters, became  in  succession  hopeful  subjects  of  divine  grace. 
The  youngest  v.  is  about  twelve  years  of  age,  and  was  awak- 
ened to  a  sense  of  her  lost  condition  by  being  left  alone, 
while  her  mother  and  sisters  were  ail  at  the  Communion 
Table.  It  looked  like  the  separation  at  the  judgment  seat 
of  Christ.  Let  others  who  may  be  in  a  similar  condition 
take  the  hint,  and  fly  to  the  Saviour  in  time  to  make  Him 
their  friend.  Then,  when  the  door  shall  be  shut,  they  will 
be  found  among  those  who  are  ready,  and  who  will  partake 
of  the  marriage  supper  of  the  Lamb.  Matth.  xxv.  1 — 12. 
The  first  of  the  w  bo  was  brought  out  of  darkness 

into  light,  and  who  is  still  shining  among  the  children  of 
light,  heard  much  about  the  reason  assigned  by  our  Lord, 
why  sinners  do  not  believe  in  Him.  John  v.  40.     At  length 


200  MEMOIR    OF 


Ki'iiiiiiist'i'iices  nl' a  rc\  iv;il. 


she  reluctantly  yielded  her  assent  to  the  truth,  that  mnril- 
Uxkgness  on  her  part  was  the  only  obstacle.  She  admitted) 
too,  that  she  was  guilty  in  cherishing  that  state  of  mind, 
but  there  she  stuck.  How  she  was  to  be  made  willing,  was 
the  next  question  to  be  solved,  and  which  to  her  involved 
a  greater  difficulty  than  she  had  ever  before  encountered. 
No  words  can  express  the  agitations  of  her  mind,  while  she 
contemplated  the  only  alternative  before  her — voluntary 
submission — or  everlasting  RUIN.  And  now  came  the 
crisis.  The  opposition  of  her  heart  to  the  requirements  of 
the  gospel,  led  her  to  the  clear  conviction  that  she  was  lost 
and  must  die  without  hope,  unless  God  should  have  mercy 
upon  her  and  subdue  her  to  Himself.  She  could  no  longer 
object  to  the  doctrine  of  divine  sovereignty  in  the  salvation 
of  sinners,  for  it  was  now  her  only  ground  of  hope.  The 
arm  of  the  Lord  was  revealed — her  opposition  gave  way — 
she  ventured  upon  the  Saviour,  and  in  so  doing  found  such 
a  change  in  her  feelings,  that  she  could  love  Him,  and  trust 
in  Him,  and  rejoice  in  His  holy  Government. 

Another  sister,  who  was  very  gay,  became  extremely  irri- 
table under  conviction.  On  a  certain  occasion,  she  was 
much  vexed — it  was  a  feeling  of  proud  indignation — at  the 
speaker,  for  aiming,  as  she  supposed,  at  her.  When  the 
meeting  was  dismissed,  she  rushed  out  of  the  room  as  soon 
as  possible,  in  order  to  avoid  being  spoken  to,  and  returned 
home  in  a  state ofthe  most  painful  excitement.  This  served 
to  deepen  her  conviction  of  the  wickedness  of  her  heart. 
As  a  man  in  the  consumption  feels  unwilling  to  admil  that 
he  has  that  fatal  disease,  until  he  expectorates  something 
which  settles  the  question,  and  decides  that  he  is  in  a  dying 
condition,  so  this  fair  daughter  of  folly  and  fashion  was 
extremely  reluctant  to  admit  that  her  heart  was  desperately 
wicked,  and  never  would  have  received  that  conviction,  if 
God  had  not  in  mercy  taken  off  the  covering,  and  exhibited 
to  her  view  the  horrible  corruption  within.  Her  distress 
was  intense.  She  said  she  felt,  until  she  thought  she  could 
feel  no  more.  After  doing  many  things  to  obtain  relief, 
she  said  to  the  Pastor,  '  If  there  is  anything  else  that  1  can 
do  to  obtain  religion,  I  do  not  know  what  it  is.  It  seems 
to  me  that  I  have  done  every  thing,  and  yet  I  cannot  get 
relief.'  After  preaching  one  evening,  the  Pastor  went  to 
the  pew  where  she  was  standing,  in  order  to  inquire  into 
her  state  of  mind.     That  was  the  critical   moment.     She 


WILLIAM      C.     WALTON.  201 

Tin1  convicted  ftunlly. 

saw  in  his  countenance  an  expression  of  unusual  anxiety. 
She  concluded  that  he  was  alarmed  at  her  case.  She  felt 
that  there  was  just  cause  for  alarm,  and  trembled  so  (hat 
she  could  scarcely  stand.  Slie  went  home — shut  herself  up 
in  her  room — threw  herself  upon  her  knees,  and  there  felt 
for  the  first  time  that  she  was  a  lost  sinner.  'I  felt,'  said 
she,  '  thai  I  had  been  sinning  against  God,  trampling  upon 
His  laws,  .ind  that  I  was  unwilling  to  submit  to  Him.  I 
saw  that  although  I  bad  been  praying,  reading,  and  attend- 
ing meetings  in  the  greatest  distress,  yet  /  had  done  noth- 
ing right — all  was  wrong.  I  was  convinced  that  I  must 
do  something  tiiat  I  HAD  NEVER  vet  done.  I  bad  never 
submitted  with  all  my  heart  to  the  Lord.  I  now  made  the 
effort  to  submit — I  tried  to  pray.  When  I  rose  I  felt  a  per- 
suasion that  although  1  was  lost,  Christ  was  able  and  wil- 
ling to  save  me.  1  could  now  trust  in  Him  and  surrender 
myself  entirely  to  Him.  Ever  since  that  moment,  I  have 
been  as  happy  as  1  can  be.  After  I  had  experienced  this 
change,  I  thought  I  had  lost  my  impressions,  but  I  felt  that 
I  could  love  the  Saviour.'  " 

"  A  married  sister  of  the  same  family  had  been  so  much 
devoted  to  her  children,  and  cared  so  little  about  God  or  her 
own  soul,  that  she  seldom  could  be  induced  to  go  to  church. 
The  change  experienced  by  two  of  her  sisters,  however, 
began  to  make  her  uneasy.  After  considerable  distress,  she 
thought  she  had  experienced  a  change.  The  reason  why 
she  thought  so  was,  that  she  felt  much  oppressed  with  a 
sense  of  her  ingratitude,  which  she  mistook  for  repentance  ; 
and  besides,  she  thought  she  was  now  willing  to  change 
her  mode  of  life  and  do  better.  On  these  accounts  she 
thought  the  Lord  would  receive  her  to  favor.  During  this 
time  she  thought  she  had  given  up  every  thing  that  was  sin- 
ful, and  that  she  was  willing  to  do  every  thing  required.  It 
was  not  long  before  she  got  into  darkness  and  lost  all  her 
comfort  and  all  her  hope,  and  now  the  pride  and  rebellion 
of  her  heart  were  excited  in  such  a  degree  as  to  convince 
her  that  she  had  not  submitted  to  God.  Her  pious  friends, 
and  especially  her  sisters  felt  deeply  concerned  for  her,  and 
used  every  possible  means  to  induce  her  to  attend  the  meet- 
ings; but  she  was  unwilling  to  go,  because  she  said  what 
she  heard  only  hardened  her  heart,  and  she  thought  she 
knew  all  that  any  body  could  tell  her  on  the  subject.  Still 
her  friends  persevered ;  she  became  irritable,  felt  that  she 


202  MEMOIR     OP 


Tin-  converted  family. 


was  karrassed  and  persecuted.  One  evening  at  prayer  meet- 
ing, her  pride  and  anger  were  both  excited  in  a  high  de- 
gree. She  felt  herself  degraded  by  being  in  such  a  prayer 
meeting,  and  manifesting  so  much  concern  on  the  subject 
of  religion,  and  was  so  angry  with  herself  and  others,  that 
she  would  have  risen  up  abruptly  and  left  the  house,  if  she 
had  not  been  unwilling  to  take  her  husband  away  from  the 
meeting." 

"  At  length  the  Pastor,  in  conversation  at  her  own  house, 
repeated  the  following  words  from  Dr.  Watts'  version  of  the 
cxvith.  Psalm  : 

Bow  nappy  all  thy  servants  an- ! 
How  Rreai  thy  grace  to  me! 
My  life,  which  thou  hast  made  tliy  care, 
Lord  I  il  ivote  to  iliee ! 

lie  asked  her  if  she  could  say  that  she  would,  from  that 
moment,  devote  herselfto  the  Lord,  whatever  might  become 
of  her.  She  said  she  was  resolved  to  do  so.  Shefeltsome 
relief  at  that  time  ;  but  as  she  had  deceived  herself  once 
before,  she  was  afraid  to  trust  her  feelings.  She  retired 
for  self-examination  and  prayer,  and  soon  obtained  entire 
relief,  and  experienced  much  joy  and  peace  in  believing. 

When  her  husband  returned  home,  she  related  her  expe- 
rience to  him;  and  his  mind,  which  bad  been  shaken  before 
from  its  resting  place,  was  now  convinced  that  he  had  alto- 
gether mistaken  the  true  nature  of  religion,  He  had  receiv- 
ed a  religious  education — was  exceedingly  moral  in  his 
deportment,  and  thought  he  had  experienced  all  that  was 
implied  in  a  change  of  heart.  lie  thought  the  change  was 
so  gradual  in  him  that  it  was  imperceptible,  and  thus  he 
quieted  his  mind,  while  he  regarded  every  thing  beyond  the 
cold,  formal  routine  of  external  duty,  as  extravagance  or 
enthusiasm.  But  now  he  was  convinced  that  be  had  no 
religion.  From  that  time,  he  became  so  much  distressed 
that  he  could  scarcely  pay  any  attention  to  his  business. 
His  situation  appeared  to  himself  to  be  peculiarly  discour- 
aging, lie  had  been  so  long  under  the  power  of  delusion, 
that  he  thought  it  had  settled  him  down  in  a  state  of  feel- 
ing which  could  never  be  changed.  But  he  has  found  that 
with  God  all  things  are  possible.  The  mountain  has  been 
removed  I y  faith,  and  by  faith  he  now  stands,  a  wonder  to 
himself,  that  he  was  not  left  under  his  chosen  delusions  to 
perish  with  a  lie  in  his  right  hand." 


William  c .  walton.  203 

A  hardened  itnnei  arrested. 

"J.  ('.  was  a  hardened  -inner,  whose  very  looks  seemed 
to  proclaim  defiance  to  Heaven  and  earth.  He  had  grown 
old  in  the  service  of  Satan.  He  never  visited  the  house  of 
God;  hut  often  spent  the  Sabbath  at  work.  His  temper 
was  irascible  in  the  highest  degree,  and  his  language  was 
the  dialect  of  hell,  lie  cursed  his  tools,  his  children,  any 
tiling  and  every  thing  that  came  in  his  way,  when  he  was 
angry.  One  evening  as  he  was  passing  near  the  church, 
the  bell  began  to  ring.  A  strange  feeling  came  over  him — 
'  I  must  go  to  church.'  Yes,  he  fell  as  if  something  like 
necessity  was  laid  upon  him:  he  must  go.  But  he  resisted  the 
impression  and  went  some  distance  beyond  the  church, 
called  tosee  a  friend  and  talked  awhile;  hut  he  could  not 
get  clear  of  the  conviction  that  he  oucrht  to  go  to  church, 
and  he  was  drawn  back  as  by  an  invisible  hand  to  the  house 
of  God,  which  became  the  gate  of  Heaven  to  his  soul. 
There  he  began  to  feel  Bolemn,  and  believe  that  there  is  a 
reality  in  religion.  He  came  again  and  again,  and  soon 
he  was  found  to  be  in  great  distress.  This  continued  a 
week  or  two,  during  which  time  he  was  softened  down  to 
the  meekness  and  humility  of  a  child.  Having  obtained  a 
hope  in  Christ,  he  could  scarcely  ever  speak  of  the  change 
which  had  taken  place  witiiout  weeping.  His  wife  soon 
experienced  a  similar  change. 

After  they  became  members  of  the  church,  a  meeting 
was  commenced  at  their  house.  The  first  night  the  room 
was  full,  and  so  it  continued  week  after  week  until  nearly 
every  individual  that  attended  was  indulging  a  hope  ;  *  so 
mightily  grew  the  word  of  God  and  prevailed.' 


CHAPTER    XII 


Wnlton  visits  Occoqiian  Opposition. 

In  January,  1830,  Mr.  Walton  visited  Occoquan,  preached 
to  the  little  church,  addressed  them  on  the  subject  of  tem- 
perance, and  purchased  a  lot  for  the  building  contemplated 
for  the  use  of  the  Sabbath  School,  and  for  public  worship. 
The  prospects  in  that  field  continued  encouraging,  not  the 
least  evidence  of  which  was  the  fact,  that  he  was  saluted 
with  a  howl  or  two  from  the  foul  fiend  of  darkness.  A 
reward,  very  appropriate  in  its  character,  was  offered  to 
any  one  who  would  inflict  a  flagellation  on  the  servant  of 
the  Lord.  But  such  threats  were  neither  new  nor  rare. 
They  remind  the  author  of  the  case  of  a  certain  man  whom 
he  knew,  advanced  too,  in  years,  who,  becoming  enraged 
at  the  truth  as  it  came  from  the  lips  of  a  clergyman,  when 
he  saw  him  passing  near  his  house,  '  took  up  stones,' 
and  hurled  them,  not,  gentle  reader,  at  the  innocent  man 
of  God,  but  at  the  fence! 

Other  trials,  more  sharp,  because  more  directly  from  his 
Heavenly  Father,  such  as  family  sickness,  the  death  of  near 
relations,  and  his  own  constitutional  sufferings,  of  which 
he  wrote  in  parts  of  his  Diary  already  quoted,  these  urged 
him  to  the  unfailing  source  of  light  and  consolation,  to 
which  he  had  never  in  vain  repaired;  making  good  the  dec- 
laration, 'He  shall  deliver  thee  in  six  troubles;  yea,  in 
seven  there  shall  no  evil  touch  thee.' 


MEMOIR     OF      WALTON.  205 

Visit  to  Virginia.  Death  of  bit  mother  to  taw- 

"  March  29,  1830. — In  my  beat  moments  i  feel  thankfu] 
for  them,  and  the  many  other  afflictive  dispensations  ofProv- 
idence,  which  \  am  conscious  have  been  blessings  of  ines- 
timable value  to  my  soul.  !  have  felt,  for  some  time  past, 
in  a  great  measure  weaned  from  this  world,  and  I  trust  my 
affections  are  proportionably  set  on  things  above.  Although 
1  am  conscious  of  many  lamented  infirmities,  and  sin  min- 
gles wit  li  all  I  do,  yet  I  can  thank  God  for  the  victory  lie 
has  given  me  over  sin.  W  I  am  not  deceived,  I  can  say 
consistently  with  the  above  acknowledgment,  that  no  ini- 
quity lias  dominion  over  me.  My  besetting  sins  have  been 
so  far  subdued  that  I  can  now  say — 

'The  deare  ,  known, 

hat  idol  be, 
Help  me  to  tear  it  from  thy  throne, 
And  worship  unhj  : , 

'•The  management  of  my  farm  is  still  a  source  of  diffi- 
culty when  1  go  up  to  that  neighborhood,  although  while  1 
am  absent  from  it  and  at  my  proper  work,  I  seldom  think 
of  it.  I  am  more  and  more  convinced  that  profi  ssional  men 
ought  to  have  nothing  to  do  with  farms,  but  to  sell  them  as 
soon  as  possible." 

"June  12. — During  my  long  detention  (in  Virginia, 
where  he  was  necessarily  called  to  spend  some  weeks,)  I 
have  been  every  day  exposed  to  the  company  of  irreligious 
men.  I  have  daily  sought  divine  grace  to  enable  me  to 
conduct  myself  with  christian  and  ministerial  propriety, 
and  I  think  the  Lord  has  been  with  me  and  kept  me  from 
dishonoring  His  en  use,  as  far  as  I  know.  Indeed,  I  have 
seen  evidence  of  increasing  respect  both  to  myself  and  to 
religion.  For  this  I  feel  thankful,  though  conscious  of 
many  sins,  which,  without  the  atoning  blood  of  my  Saviour, 
would  sink  me  to  ruin.  While  in  the  country,  I  preached 
every  Sabbath  excepting  one.  One  Sabbath  I  preached 
twice  to  the  colored  people." 

"June27. — On  this  day  week,  (Sabbath  20th,)  our  dear 
mother  *  laid  down  her  earthly  tabernable,  to  enter,  we  trust, 
into  the  joys  of  her  Lord.  She  had  suffered  apparently  all 
that  her  constitution  could  bear;  and  she  sunk,  worn  out 
with  disease  and  pain,  after  an  illness  of  nearly  nine  weeks. 
Her  mind  was  clear  and  collected  to  the  last,  and  she  de- 

*  Mrs.  Muse. 

18 


20(>  MEMOIR     OF 


Answer  to  prayer.  His  love  for  the  pulpit. 

sired  to  depart  and  to  be  with  Christ.  She  was  supported 
l>v  His  presence  and  the  consolations  of  His  Spirit,  and 
her  hope  and  confidence  never  failed.  I  closed  her  eyes, 
and  blessed  the  Lord  for  His  goodness  and  mercy  to  her, 
and  was  enabled  to  bear  my  testimony  to  the  excellence  of 
her  character,  at  her  funeral.-' 

Accustomed  as  our  friend  was,  to  watch  with  a  most  vig- 
ilant eye  the  events  of  Providence,  and  to  find  frequent 
occasions  for  the  exercise  of  the  most  ardent  gratitude,  the 
following  circumstance  must   have   deeply  affected   him  : 

"  Another  signal  mercy.  On  our  return,  our  woman  who 
nurses  our  youngest  child,  was  taken  extremely  ill  at  the 
first  stage  of  our  journey.  She  fainted,  and  for  some  time 
I  thought  she  would  die.  She  recovered  so  far  as  to  go 
about  five  miles  further,  and  there  appeared  to  be  so  ill, 
that  we  had  no  reason  to  hope,  without  something  like  a 
miracle,  that  she  would  be  able  to  travel  any  further.  If 
we  had  left  her,  it  would  have  been  very  expensive,  and 
what  is  more,  the  child  would  have  suffered,  and  the  mother 
was  so  extremely  feeble,  that  she  was  not  able  to  undergo 
the  fatigue  of  taking  care  of  it  at  night.  I  cried  unto  the 
Lord  again.  I  felt  that  help  could  come  alone  from  Him. 
I  exercised  faith  while  I  repeated  the  words  of  the  centu- 
rion— '  Lord  I  am  not  worthy  that  thou  shouldst  come  under 
my  roof,  but  speak  the  word  oidy  and  my  servant  shall  be 
healed.'  To  my  surprise,  she  was  able  to  come  home  the 
next  day,  and  has  been  improving  ever  since!" 

But  whether  in  sickness  or  affliction,  in  weakness  or 
weariness,  his  heart  was  as  infallibly  drawn  towards  his 
pulpit,  as  the  needle  to  the  pole.  About  the  middle  of  July, 
he  was  attacked  with  a  violent  fever  and  agonizing  pains 
to  such  a  degree,  as  to  extort  from  him  involuntary  groans, 
and  yet  on  the  following  Sabbath,  as  if  in  defiance  of  the 
disease,  he  found  his  way  to  his  beloved  pulpit!  "It  re- 
mained doubtful  whether  I  should  be  able  to  preach  until 
nearly  eleven  o'clock,  as  I  had  taken  medicine  and  was  ex- 
tremely weak.  However,  I  attempted  it,  although  the  doc- 
tor had  left  positive  orders  to  the  contrary,  which  I  did  not 
hear  in  time.     I  called  on  my  elders  to  pray.     I  preached 


W  IF,  M  A  M    C  .    WALTON.  207 

Pbyaical  exbauation.  Faint,  yetpuiroing 

about  forty-five  minutes  with  increasing  strength  and  feel- 
ing; but  in \  sigh!  was  so  affected,  that  I  could  see  nothing 
distinctly  a  short  distance  off.  I  was  much  assisted  in 
preaching  on  these  words  :  '  And  we  know  that  all  things 
work  together  for  good  to  them  who  love  God.'  I  trust  it 
was  a  word  in  season  to  many  of  my  poor  afflicted  people; 
and  I  believe  that  it  is  for  their  sake  as  well  as  my  own,  that 
the  Lord  is  thus  often  afflicting  me,  to  teach  me  how  to  sym- 
pathize with  them  and  how  to  preach  to  them." 

"  I  think  my  many  trials  have  heen  blessed  to  me  in  this 
respect,  at  least,  thai  the]  have  led  me  to  look  to  God  con- 
tinual! v  in  (>very  emergency — to  trust  in  Him  for  every 
thing  I  need,  and  I  now  am  generally  enabled  to  find  relief 
in  so  doing.  Being  thrown  so  often  upon  the  exercise  of 
faith,  has  strengthened  that  grace,  and  1  now  habitually  find 
the  exercise  of  faith  to  be  a  source  not  of  imaginary,  but  of 
real  comfort.  Thus  patience  workcth  experience,  and  ex- 
perience hope." 

Sabbath,  Aug.  22. — Was  much  fatigued  by  preaching 
this  morning.  Came  home  exhausted,  without  appetite, 
and  have  had  more  or  less  fever  ever  since.  Attended  a 
meeting  this  afternoon  for  sailors — much  exhausted;  felt 
as  if  I  could  hardly  walk  home.  Have  been  very  much 
cast  down — feel  as  if  I  were  good  for  nothing — have  no 
strength  of  mind  or  memory  to  take  hold  of  or  to  retain  any 
thing,  and  yet  I  am  now  going  to  attempt  to  preach  from  a 
meagre  skeleton,  with  but  a  few  thoughts  collected,  and 
they  poorly  arranged.  May  the  Lord  make  His  strength 
perfect  in  my  weakness,  and  work  for  His  own  glory." 

That  '  meagre  skeleton'  was  well  filled  out,  and  invested 
with  the  rich  substance  of  divine  truth,  so  that  a  number 
were  blest  under  the  sermon. 

"Aug.  30. — Yesterday  (Sabbath)  I  preached  from  these 
words — '  Restore  unto  me  the  joy  of  thy  salvation.'  After- 
wards had  a  meeting  of  the  male  members  of  the  church 
for  conference  and  prayer.  I  found  that  it  was  a  general 
impression  that  the  members  of  the  church  needed  to  be 
revived,  and  those  who  were  present  expressed  a  willing- 


208  MEMOIR     OF 


Leltei  to  b  ministerial  brother. 


ness  to  observe  a  concert  of  prayer  for  that  purpose,  (i.  e. 
renewing  our  former  engagement,  which  had  been  forgot- 
ten or  was  attended  to  formally,)  and  to  have  a  day  of  fast- 
ing and  prayer." 

Tbe  following  letter,  written  to  a  ministerial  brother  in 

Virginia,  may  be  here  introduced: 

Alexandria,  Feb.  24,  1830. 

"  Dear  Brother, 

I  beg  you  to  excuse  me  for  delaying  so  lon£r  to  answer 
your  friendly  letter  of  the  3d  inst.  A  part  of  the  time  I 
have  been  indisposed;  and  when  1  was  able  to  do  anything, 
was  obliged  to  attend  to  other  pressing  engagements.  I 
assure  you,  it  was  highly  gratifying  to  receive  such  a  com- 
munication, and  not  the  less  soon  account  of  the  strictures 
it  contains  on  parts  of  my  little  volume.  For  these  strict- 
ures i  thank  you,  and  if  a  second  edition  should  ever  be 
called  for,  I  shall  try  to  profit  by  them.  You  are  not  mis- 
taken in  supposing  that  I  still  feel  a  deep  interest  in  the 
moral  condition  of  Virginia.  I  mourn,  and  have  long 
mourned,  over  the  unpromising  condition  of  many  of  her 
churches,  and  over  the  many  obstacles  which  exist  in  her 
wide  domain  to  the  progress  of  truth  and  godliness.  And 
1  rejoice  at  every  event  that  indicates  a  change  for  the  bet- 
ter; and  among  other  things,  I  rejoice  ;t  your  success  in 
Hampshire.  May  the  Lord  slil!  he  with  you  and  bless  your 
labors  still  more  abundantly  !  The  field  yon  occupy  is 
wide  and  important,  and  you  have  much  rugged  work  to 
perform,  but  1  trust  you  will  have  strength  given  you  equal 
to  the  task.  It  is  cheering  indeed  to  see  the  Lord  putting 
His  seal  to  our  unworthy  labors,  and  giving  ua  from  time  to 
time  tokens  of  His  gracious  acceptance.  For  my  own  part, 
while  I  feel  unfeignedly  thankful  for  the  little  which  I  have 
been  enabled  to  accomplish,  I  have  reason  daily  to  deplore  my 
past  negligence,  and  the  many  imperfections  and  sins  which 
still  dene  to  me.  The  motives  to  diligence  in  improving 
present  opportunities  and  privileges  appear  to  me  to  be 
increasing  daily.  There  are  many  tilings  in  the  events 
which  have  recently  occurred  and  which  are  now  passing 
before  our  eyes,  to  admonish  us  to  be  instant,  in  season  and 
out  of  season,  and  that  the  time  may  soon  come  when  the 
people  will  not  bear  sound  doctrine,   but  after   their   own 


WILLIAM    C  .    WALTON.  20!) 

T1n  Protestant.  Another  visit  to  ( Iccoqnan. 

lusts  shall  heap  in  themselves  teachers,  such  as  Frances 
Wright,  having  itching  ears  for  something  which  will  not 
trouble  their  consciences.  Many  of  our  citizens  seem  to  be 
given  up  to  infatuation.  The  enemy  is  coming  in  from 
differenl  quarters  like  a  Hood:  and  it' the  Lord  does  not  lift 
up  a  standard  against  him,  it  ma)  not  he  long  hefore  the 
churches  in  tins  country  may  be  called  to  pass  through  the 
lire  of  an  infidel  or  a  catholic  persecution. 

Have  you  seen  the  Protestant?  The  editor  appears  to  be 
as  well  qualified  lor  contending  with  the  Pope  or  the  devil, 
as  Mr.  Hewitt  is  lor  the  contest  in  which  he  is  so  success- 
fully engaged  with  "  king  Ruin.''  Do  try  to  get  it  circu- 
lated in  your  region.  Its  developments  of  popery  are 
enough  to  make  this  whole  nation  tremble. 

1  understand  Dr.  Matthews  has  determined  to  accept  the 
invitation  he  has  received  from  Indiana.  1  regret  to  think 
that  I  may  probably  see  his  face  in  this  world  no  more;  but 
I  cheerfully  part  with  him  for  the  sake  of  the  greater  good, 
which  I  trust  he  will  he  the,  instrument  of  doing  in  the  vast 
and  increasing  held  which  is  opening  at  the  west. 

Brother  Wilson  informs  me  that  there  has  been  an  unu- 
sual attention  to  religion  in  his  congregation  ever  since  our 
four  days'  meeting  there  in  December  last.     About  twenty 
persons  had  attended  the  inquiry  meetings.     *     *     * 
Yours  truly  and  fraternally, 

W.  C.  Waltox." 

"  Sept.  0. — Yesterday,  according  to  appointment,  I  went 
to  Occoquan,  and  last  night,  preached  in  our  new  building 
for  the  first  time.  It  was  full,  and  the  people  were  very 
attentive ;  some  wept.  I  had  unusual  liberty.  I  desired 
it  and  repeatedly  and  earnestly  prayed  for  it.  After  pray- 
ing for  some  time  at  brother  M 's,  I  came  down  stairs 

and  I  read  what  our  Lord  says  respecting  importunity  in 
prayer.  It  was  almost  time  to  set  off  to  the  church,  but  I 
felt  disposed  to  retire  aorain,  and  did  so.  I  hope  the  result 
will  prove  that  the  Lord  was  with  us.  I  did  not  feel  dis- 
p  i.,  leave  the  little  church.     I  lingered  behind.     I  feel 

a  sort  of  parental  fondness  for  the  building.  I  exceedingly 
rejoice  in  the  accomplishment  of  such  an  object.  The 
Lord  has  built  the  house,  and  therefore  we  have  not  labored 
in  vain." 

18* 


210  MEMOIR 


OF 


Second  visit  to  Fredericksburs.  Curious  dream.  New  temptations. 

During  this  month,  he  was  again  calk  to  attend  a  series 
of  meetings  at  Fredericksburg,  and  unde.  listressing  views 
of  his  own  heart,  preached  to  the  people  ot  nnfrequently 
on  sucli  texts  as,  '  Restore  unto  me  the  y  of  thy  salva- 
tion, and  uphold  ine  with  thy  free  Spirit/  lie  felt  that  his 
personal  interest  was  so  great  in  the  subject,  he  was  on  that 
account  better  prepared  to  preach  on  it.  Acting  from  a 
sense  of  duty,  more  than  from  impulses,  he  soon  found  a 
path  of  light  and  walked  therein  with  great  joy.  His  '  light 
sprang  forth  speedily,'  and  the  truth  of  the  lviiith.  chapter 
of  Isaiah  was  vividly  demonstrated  to  him.  Again  a  few 
days  after,  he  held  a  series  of  meetings  at  his  favorite  Occo- 
quan,  taking  with  him,  as  assistants  in  the  work,  a  number 
of  his  church  members,  and  worshipping  in  the  woods, 
because  no  house  could  contain  the  people.  The  Lord's 
Supper  was  administered,  and  there  he  delighted  '  to  spend 
and  be  spent  for  Christ,'  for  when  the  labors  were  over,  he 
was  indeed  much  exhausted. 

"Oct.  10. — I  lay  down  to  sleep,  and  dreamed  of  discus- 
sing a  theological  point  with  some  minister.  My  earnest- 
ness agitated  me  so  that  I  awoke.  I  saw  my  way  clear — 
had  got  my  brother  into  an  inextricable  difficulty,  and  the 
subject  suggested  a  train  of  thought  which  I  immediately 
embodied  into  a  skeleton  and  preached  with  much  liberty." 

He  had  been  doubting,  on  account  of  ill  health,  whether 
to  attempt  the  duty  of  lecturing  that  evening. 

"  I  have  been  harrassed  by  some  temptations  that  I  do 
not  not  remember  to  have  had  uefore.  I  have  found  my 
heart  several  times  quarreling  with  parts  of  the  divine  gov- 
ernment, e.g.  multiplying  t'i<v  families  of  the  earth  to  such 
an  extent,  when  He  knew  that  so  many  of  them  would  be 
lost ;  also  suspending  the  salvation  of  sinners  on  the  prayers 
and  fidelity  of  Christians,  who  are  so  much  inclined  to  neg- 
lect their  duty.  I  find  that  my  heart  is  more  wicked  than 
I  ever  conceived  it  to  be  before,  and  I  deeply  feel  my  need 
of  the  sovereign  grace  of  God  to  sanctify  and  fit  me  for  His 
service." 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  211 

Employment  <>r  i  in-  ( 'lergy.  Preaching  to  the  conscience. 

The  following  letter,  dated  Oct.  16,  1KJ0,  from  the  editor 
of  an  important  periodical,  who  has  now  gone  to  his  rest, 
was  sent  to  Mr.  Walton.      It  deserves  consideration. 

"  Brother  Walton, 

*  *  *         *  I    wish    exceedingly    to  get 

you  to  write  some  letters  to  the  Clergy  on  the  subject 
of  their  great  business,  viz.  the  salvation  of  sinners.  Our 
clergymen  in  the  United  States  are  generally  men  ca- 
pable of  effecting  great  things  for  the  kingdom  of  Christ. 
But  instead  of  laboring  directly  for  revivals,  some  are  labor- 
ing to  sustain  the  character  of  scholars;  others- to  procure 
a  D.  D.;  others,  who  have  won  the  D.  D.,  to  show  the  pub- 
lic that  thev  deserved  it ;  others  are  trying  to  effect  a  per- 
manent settlement ;  others  to  build  up  society  ;  others  to  be 
prudent  even  to  excess,  &c.  Now,  dear  brother,  how  shall 
we  make  our  ministers  more  practical,  simple,  docile,  and 
affectionate  ?  Please  look  at  the  first  article  under  the  Min- 
ister's department  in  our  paper  of  this  date.  We  will  not 
ask  for  long  letters ;  in  this  respect  suit  your  own  conven- 
ience. *  *  *  I  am  more  and  more  convinced  that  the 
clergy  of  the  American  church  are  capable  of  bringing 
about  an  entire  new  state  of  things  throughout  the  world." 

The  reader  doubtless  recollects  the  case  of  a  certain 
hearer  of  a  certain  preacher,  who,  strongly  convicted  by 
conscience  ;  surprised  and  agitated  by  new  and  unwonted 
feelings,  hastened  to  he:  friends  with  the  request,  '  Come, 
see  a  man  who  told  me  all  things  that  ever  1  did.'  When 
this  great  Master  teaches  his  servants  how  to  preach, 
then  do  they  reach  the  very  springs  of  the  heart.  They 
uncover  the  fountain  of  human  action.  They  dissect  the 
body  of  sin.  Much  of  Walton's  preaching  was  of  this 
character.     To  mention  an  instance. 

"  Oct.  18. — On  Monday  morning  a  man  sent  for  me,  and 
requested  me  to  answer  five  or  six  questions  which  he  had 

written  down.     '  Has told  you  of  a  conversation  I 

had  with  him  I '     No.     '  Has told  you  of  a  certain 

transaction  in  which  I  was  concerned?'     &c.  &c.  &c.     I 


212  MEMOIR    OP 


Appiiiiitctl  ili-li'snttMo  tlit1  Sy  in  hi  hi  VirL' in  in.  Preaches  before  the  Svnod. 


had  not  heard  a  syllable  of  either  of  the  occurrences  to 
which  hr  alluded,  and  bad  do  reference  to  him  in  either  of 
my  discourses,  and  yet  he  thought  1  had  been  preaching  at 
him  all  day!  especially  that  1   intended  him   by  the  barren 

fig  tree  to  which  I  referred,  as  an  illustration  of  one  whom 
God  had  forsaken.  I  told  him  he  ought  to  regard  it  as  a 
message  sent  from  God,  for  I  certainly  had  no  particular 
reference  to  him.  He  felt  the  force  of  the  admonition,  and 
said  he  was  resolved  that  he  would  be  more  attentive  to  las 
duties  in  future."* 

"  Oct.  19. — Written  two  letters  to  England — one  to  J. 
McB.  who  was  formerly  a  member  of  my  church,  and  the 
other  to  Dr.  Burder,  who  has  requested  a  continuance  of 
our  correspondence.  I  availed  myself  of  this  opportunity 
to  suggest  to  him  some  hints  respecting  the  best  measures 
for  promoting  revivals." 

In  the  month  of  November,  Mr.  Walton  was  deputed  by 
the  Presbytery  of  the  District  of  Columbiato  attend  the  annu- 
al meeting  of  the  Synod  of  Virginia  at  Winchester,  with  a 
view  to  consult  on  the  expediency  and  practicability  of  form- 
ing a  new  Synod.  The  respect  entertained  for  his  character 
as  a  preacher  and  as  a  man,  as  well  as  deference  to  him  as 
the  representative  of  a  respectable  ecclesiastical  body,  mani- 
fested itself  in  solicitations  to  preach.  The  temptation 
before  an  audience  so  highly  intellectual  and  critical,  was 
of  course  to  meet  the  emergency  with  something,  if  possi- 
ble, equally  intellectual.  But  Walton  looked  higher.  He 
did  not  allow  himself  to  swerve  from  the  fixed  principle  he 
had  adopted,  to  do  good  to  souls  in  preference  to  gaining 
credit  for  himself.  He  preached  one  of  his  most  efficient 
6ermons,  On  Conviction,  in  which   the  truth  gleamed  and 


*  A  fashionable  young  lady  of  the  Author's  acquaintance,  once  went  to  heara 
famous  preacher,  and  after  looking  at  him  a  while,  "Mercy  ln  said  she  with  her 
accustomed  li  ( i  y  of  manner  and  language,  "  what  great  eyes  ."'  The  preacher  had 
not  proceeded  far  in  his  discnurse,  when,  as  If  those  eyes  had  penetrated  t li»-  thoughts 
of  his  young  hearer,  in  enumerating  foolish  objections  to  ministers,  he  said,  "some 
sinners  will  even  carry  their  prejudices  so  far  as  to  find  fault  with  the  ryes  of  the 
preacher,  as  If  that  helped  their  cause  any ! "  It  is  unnecessary  to  add  that  the 
astonished  girl  was,  after  this,  silent. 


WILLIAM     C.     WALTON.  213 

Views  of  Hi'-  Synod. 

gored  like  ;i  two-edged  sword,  though  in  the  hand  of  the 
Shepherd  David.  Such  effects  were  the  more  remarkable, 
as  he  received  no  aid  from  a  striking  personal  presence, 
splendid  coruscations  of  intellect,  or  a  powerful  sweep  of 
oratory.  After  service,  one  of  the  eminent  Divines  of  Vir- 
ginia, now  no  more,  walked  up  to  him,  and  shaking  him 
cordially  by  the  hand,  said:  "/  will  endorse  every  word." 
Some  time  after,  the  same  brother  pleasantly  asked,  "  Have 
you  to  fight  your  way,  on  the  ground  you  were  upon  this 
morning,  with  any  person  called  a  minister?"  He  was 
answered  in  the  affirmative.  "  Then  come  to  Virginia,  and 
we  will  protect  von,"  was  the  rejoinder  of  his  friend.  But 
Walton  was  among  those  who  ask  for  themselves  no  other 
earthly  protection  on  questions  of  high  import  to  men,  than 
a  clear  conscience,  and  liberty  of  free  discussion.  This  is 
better  than  throned  power,  or  armed  hosts,  or  ecclesiastical 
1  at.  -tarts. 

The  following  views  were  by  various  clergymen  presented 
and  entertained  at  this  meeting  of  the  Synod,  as  recorded 
by  our  friend  :  "  1.  That  the  causes  which  obstruct  the  ope- 
rations of  the.  Holy  Spirit  in  the  Churches  at  present  are 
wrong  views  with  regard  to  the  use  of  means ;  also  with 
regard  to  the  doctrine  of  Divine  sovereignty — worldly 
mindedness — producing  a  state  of  feeling  uncongenial  with 
revivals,  and  incapacitating  for  holy  action — not  expecting 
a  great  and  present  blessing — not  setting  the  gift  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  before  us  as  a  distinct  object  to  be  sought  after 
— great  sermons,  (great  evils) — not  preaching  the  truth 
clearly,  and  applying  it  faithfully ,  and  with  feelings  such 
as  ought  to  be  excited  by  a  view  of  the  sinner's  actual  con- 
dition, &.c.  2.  That  where  there  are  no  revivals,  the 
Churches  are  to  blame.  This  was  embodied  in  their 
report  on  the  state  of  religion."  That  meeting  was  blessed 
by  an  outpouring  of  the  Spirit,  as  not  unfrequently  has 
been  the  fact  when  the  Virginia  ecclesiastical  bodies  have 
assembled.     It   was  truly   refreshing  to    the    soul    of  our 


214  m  e  M  o  r  n    of 


Effected  in:  labora 


brother.     He  learned,  too,  of  the  "  steadfastness  and  growth 
in  grace  of  some  of  his  spiritual  children." 

•'  Nov.  5. — Yesterday  was  niy  birth-day.  1  am  now 
thirty-seven  years  old.  I  spent  the  day  chiefly  in  medita- 
ting on  the  way  bv  which  the  Lord  had  led  me — reviewing 
all  his  dealings  with  me  ill  every  period  of  my  life — and  in 
prayer  and  praise,  while  riding  alone  on  my  journey.  It 
was  a  profitable  day,  and  at  night  I  had  an  opportunity  of 
lecturing  a  few  immortal  souls  who  seldom  hear  the  gos- 
pel." 

"  Nov.  26. — Last  night  I  returned  from  Richmond,  where 
I  attended  a  four  days'  meeting  in  conjunction  with  brother 
Wilson,  Breckinridge,  and  the  brethren  Armstrong  and 
Taylor  of  Richmond.  My  health  was  preserved ;  my  mind 
was  kept  clear,  and  my  feelings  unusually  tender  and  com- 
fortable during  almost  the  whole  time.  More  of  the  labor 
devolved  upon  me  than  upon  either  of  the  other  brethren, 
and  never  had  I  more  liberty  than  during  that  occasion, 
especially  on  Monday  morning.  My  heart  was  overflowing 
with  tender  emotions." 

These  labors  were  blessed  both  to  ministers  and  people. 
They  took  sweet  counsel  together.  They  manifested  not 
only  regard  for  the  abilities,  but  admiration  of  the  graces, 
and  affection  for  the  person  of  Walton.  These  visits  con- 
tributed much  to  the  elevation  of  his  character,  and  the 
extension  of  his  influence  in  the  region  of  his  nativity. 

"  Nov.  28. — Last  night  after  returning  from  the  meeting 
of  our  Session,  I  was  taken  with  a  chill  which  was  followed 
by  high  lever.  In  the  night  I  awoke  with  the  fever  raging, 
and  Satan  attacked  me  furiously,  trying  to  fill  me  with  fear 
and  to  make  me  think  that  this  was  my  summons  to  the 
world  of  spirits.  He  led  my  mind  into  a  train  of  thought 
respecting  my  wife  and  children,  the  provision  I  should 
make  for  them,  &c,  which  he  tried  to  make  me  believe  was 
a  presentiment  of  my  death." 

About  this  time  he  was  engaged  in  writing  a  series  of 
papers  for  the  New  York   Evangelist,  entitled   "  Fraternal 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  215 

Fraternal  admonitions!  A  liberal  present.  Further  special  efforts. 


Admonitions,"  the  object  of  which,  as  usual,  was,  to  make 
good  preachers  better,  Christiana  more  Christians,  and  in 
tliiit  way  to  bring  sinners  into  the  kingdom  of  Cbrist. 
They  arc  written  in  his  usual  simple,  lucid,  and  practical 
style,  and  well  deserve  re-publication. 

The  following  pleasant  incident  closed  the  year.  One  of 
Mr.  Walton's  members  called  to  see  him  on  one  of  tbe 
days  of  tbe  last  week  in  the  year,  and  presented  him  with 
£.">(),  as  a  token  of  personal  regard  to  one,  whose  house 
was  ever  the  seat  of  hospitality,  and  the  home  of  the  ser- 
vants of  the  Lord.  It  will  not  probably  be  known  who  this 
was,  when  I  state,  that  this  brother  had  that  year  given  to 
the  cause  of  benevolence  one-third  of  a  liberal  income. 

The  motive  which  led  him  to  be  thus  generous  to  his 
minister  was  this  passage :  '  Let  him  that  is  taught  in  the 
word  communicate  unto  him  that  teacheth  in  all  good 
things.'' 

■"  That  man  may  last,  but  never  lives, 
Who  much  receives  but  nothing  gives, 
Whom  none  can  love,  whom  none  can  thank, 
Creation's  blot — creation's  blank." 

In  the  month  of  January,  1831,  further  special  efforts 
were  made  in  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  to  promote 
religion  and  to  save  souls.  A  snow  storm,  unusually  severe 
for  that  climate,  blocked  up  the  streets  and  created  serious 
hindrances  to  locomotion,  but  Christian  energy  and  perse- 
verance triumphed  over  all,  and  the  work  of  tbe  Lord  pros- 
pered. "  The  Spirit  of  the  Lord  seemed  to  rest  upon  our 
dear  brother  A.  and  he  preached  with  great  power.  Our 
views  exactly  harmonize  on  all  subjects  of  importance  con- 
nected with  the  advancement  of  Christ's  kingdom,  and  we 
took  sweet  counsel  together.  On  Sabbath  night  after  pub- 
lic worship,  we  proposed  retiring  to  the  Session  Room.  It 
was  crowded,  and  we  could  hardly  persuade  them  to  go 
home.  On  Monday  evening,  after  brother  A.  left  us,  we 
had  a  meeting  for  inquirers  exclusively,  at  half  past  six 


216  M  I'.MOIK     OF 


His  li;ihit>  of  prayer. 

o'clock,  and  for  all  who  chose  to  come,  at  half  past  seven. 
The  room  was  again  crowded,  and  a  much  larger  number 
of  inquirers  than  1  expected." 

"  It  appears  quite  evident  that  the  Lord  is  among  ns.  I 
feel  unusually  solemn  and  an  unusual  sense  of  responsibil- 
ity and  of  my  need  of  divine  assistance.  I  am  looking  for 
the  Lord  to  work  wonders  among  us.  My  faith  never  before 
could  grasp  so  much." 

"Jan.  28. — Friday  set  apart  for  fasting  and  prayer.  Had 
a  profitable  season  alone;  some  enlargement  and  earnest- 
ness in  prayer.  Feel  a  strong  desire  for  purity  of  heart  and 
conformity  to  the  will  of  God — to  have  clear  and  trans- 
forming, and  delightful  views  of  his  character,  and  never 
more  have  a  thought,  or  feeling,  or  motive  inconsistent 
with  His  will." 

There  seemed  danger  of  a  suspension  of  the  divine  influ- 
ence. "  I  was  strongly  reminded  of  the  fact  respecting  the 
reduction  of  Gideon's  army,  before  the  Lord  would  give 
them  the  victory.  The  church  had  been  humbled,  and  ii 
was  now  plain  that  the  work  was  at  an  end,  unless  the  Lord 
should  undertake  and  carry  it  on.  On  the  Sabbath  and 
Monday  night  I  was  encouraged,  but  on  Tuesday  night  five 
new  cases  of  awakening  were  presented  and  the  prospect 
was  very  cheering." 

"One  of  the  persons  who  then  came  forward  had  been  a 
Catholic;  a  i'ew  hours  before  we  had  gone  to  see  her,  but 
she  hid  herself  and  would  not  he  seen.  This  evening,  Feb. 
3d,  she  talks  like  a  converted  woman,  and  her  husband  has 
become  anxious  about  the  salvation  of  his  soul." 

"If  I  am  not  mistaken,  I  now  have  more  of  those  views 
and  feelings  which  prepare  one  for  laboring  in  a  revival 
than  I  ever  had  before:  but  I  never  felt  my  deficiencies  and 
my  need  of  divine  communications  so  sensibly."  And  how 
did  he  obtain  them  !  By  prayer  ;  frequent,  fervent,  impor- 
tunate prayer.  It  was  the  habit  of  this  godly  man,  through 
such  labors,  to  retire  for  secret  prayer  four  or  five  times  a 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  217 

Letter  to  In  -  nephew. 


day,  and  thus  to  obtain  supplies  for  those  lavish  spiritual 
expenditures,  which  he  counted  not  dear  to  him,  so  that  he 
might  win  Christ  to  his  soul  and  souls  to  Christ.  To  these 
were  added  the  many  prayers  which  accompanied  his  visits, 
and  enlivened  the  social  meetings  so  happily  conducted  by 
him.  Occasionally,  too,  he  would  find  time  for  writing 
useful  letters.  Such  a  one  was  that,  an  extract  from  which 
follows : 

Alexandria,  Feb.  4,  1831. 
"  My  Dear  Nephew, 

*  *  *  I  do  not  wish  you  to  be  a  drone,  neither  do  I 
wish  you  to  go  to  heaven  quite  so  soon  as  the  devil  would 
have  you  to  go,  if  he  cannot  persuade  you  to  go  along  with 
him.  He  wishes  to  put  zealous  ministers  out  of  the  way 
as  speedily  as  possible — they  are  a  great  annoyance  to  him, 
and  if  he  cannot  accomplish  this  object  in  any  other  way, 
he  will  drive  them  on  to  the  commission  of  a  species  of  sui- 
cide, by  laboring  for  the  salvation  of  souls.  When  I  think 
of  my  inexperience,  at  my  first  entrance  upon  the  work  of 
the  ministry,  and  how  much  I  did  that  was  directly  calcu- 
lated to  destroy  me,  it  seems  to  be  little  less  than  a  miracle 
that  I  am  yet  alive.  I  know  two  most  valuable  ministers  at 
this  time  in  a  consumption  from  having  done  the  very  thing 
that  I  have  often  done,  namely,  persisting  in  speaking  and 
in  public  labors  when  I  was  hoarse.  If  you  do  not  take 
care,  you  will  have  a  consumptive  cough Ji.red  upon  you 
before  you  are  aware  of  your  danger.  Thus  Summerfield 
was  hurried  to  an  untimely  grave.  But  enough  on  this  sub- 
ject. I  rejoice  much  in  all  the  good  which  the  Lord  is 
doing  by  your  instrumentality.  Continue  to  be  humble  and 
to  seek  his  glory  in  simplicity  and  godly  sincerity,  and  He 
will  continue  to  honor  you.  We  have  been  looking  for 
your  arrival  among  us  with  much  anxiety  for  some  time. 
The  field  around  us  is  now  white  to  the  harvest.  We  have 
had  a  four  days'  meeting,  and  it  has  been  much  blessed. 
Some  Christians  are  more  engaged  than  I  have  ever  seen 
them,  and  the  Lord  is  carrying  on  a  good  work  amono-  us. 
There  have  been  a  considerable  number  of  very  speedy 
conversions  of  late,  and  so  far  every  thing  looks  promising 
for  the  continuance  of  the  work.  Your  aid  at  this  time 
would  be  most  seasonable,  and  I  hope  you  will  hasten  on." 
19 


218  MEMOIR     OP 


Applications  from  abroad.  Reproof. 

Such  a  goodly  name  and  praise  had  lie  acquired  in  the 
churches,  that  he  received  frequent  applications  from  min- 
isters near  and  remote,  to  assist  them  in  protracted  meet- 
ings, to  an  extent  altogether  beyond  his  power  of  compli- 
ance. 

"Saturday,  Feb.  ;">,  1831. — Received  a  letter  from  Dr. 

H requesting  and  even  demanding  my  assistance  at 

a  four  days'  meeting  the  last  week  in  this  month;  also  by 
the  same  mail  one  from  Mr.  K.  of  Harrisonburg  containing 
a  similar  request.  How  much  might  be  done  at  this  time 
among  the  churches  in  Virginia  by  the  labors  of  an  evan- 
gelist !  The  held  is  white  to  the  harvest,  but  my  presence 
is  most  imperiously  demanded  among  my  own  people." 

"  I  hear  of  wonders  achieved  in  the  cities  of  Troy  and  of 
New  York,  and  in  other  places  by  means  of  four  days'  meet- 
ings. I  rejoice,  and  would  remember  with  gratitude  that 
the  first  of  these  meetings  east  of  the  Allegany  mountains 
was  in  our  church,  and  it  was,  so  far  as  1  know,  the  first 
experiment  of  the  kind  ever  made  in  a  city.  I  still  think 
that  it  will  constitute  an  era  in  the  history  of  the  churches 
of  this  region." 

"  Sabbath  en.,  Fib.  (i. — I  have  been  engaged  in  public 
duties  to-day  more  than  five  hours,  nearly  the  whole  of 
which  my  voice  was  exerted  in  speaking  or  singing.  It  was 
weak  in  the  morning,  but  this  evening  it  was  strong  and 
clear.  I  have  had  liberty  in  speaking  morning  and  evening 
of  the  kingdom  and  the  glory  of  Christ,  the  triumphs  of  His 
gospel,  and  the  duty  of  all  to  receive  Him  as  God's  unspeak- 
able gift." 

If  there  be  a  painful  task,  if  there  be  a  neglected  duty  in 
the  church  of  God,  it  is  that  of  reproof.  To  Walton's  gen- 
tle spirit  it  could  never  be  pleasant.  But  he  '  took  up  the 
cross.' 

"Feb.  8. — This  morning  after  seeking  the  direction  and 
blessing  of  God,  undertook  to  admonish  two  brethren  than 
whom  perhaps  none  could  be  found  more  difficult  to  deal 
with.  But  both  took  it  kindly,  and  one  promised  that  he 
would  desist  entirely  from  the  sin  about  which  I  admonished 
him.  He  seemed  to  be  affected  with  a  sense  of  obligation 
for  my  kindness,  and  thanked  me  feelingly." 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  219 

Misapprehension  of  the  value  of  his  own  Bern B,    Peelings  Of  a  minister's  wile. 

"Feb.  9. — Came  home  last  night  (Tuesday)  groanrig 
along  the  street  in  the  anguish  of  my  spirit  on  account  of 
my  coldness  and  insensibility,  and  on  account  of  the  appar- 
ent suspension  of  divine  influences." 

"Tuesday. — 1  met  a  man  yesterday  morning  expressing 
much  joy,  who  said  he  had  received  a  great  blessing  under 
my  morning  discourse  on  Sabbath." 

"Feb.  19. — Oil  Thursday  evening  about  fifteen  made 
application  for  admittance  to  the  privileges  of  our  church. 
Another  lady  who  came  to  our  church  last  Sabbath  morn- 
ing for  the  first  time,  was  convicted  and  on  Wednesday 
obtained  a  hope.  She  staled  that  she  never  had  been  in  a 
Presbyterian  Church  before.  Another  instance  of  good 
done  by  that  discourse  over  which  I  grieved  so  much." 

The  text  of  that  discourse  may  be  found  in  Ezek.  xviii. 
HO,  31.  Many  Christians  felt  it  was  the  most  satisfactory 
discussion  of  the  subject  they  had  ever  heard.  Another  ser- 
mon which  he  preached  soon  after  on  the  text,  '  The  way 
of  transgressors  is  hard,''  seemed  to  many  to  surpass  any 
thing  they  had  ever  heard  from  him.  Yet  on  reaching  his 
home,  so  dissatisfied  was  he  with  his  performance,  that  he 
asked  Mrs.  Walton  whether  she  was  not  ashamed  of  it? 

A  minister's  wife  indeed  has  an  intense  and  sometimes  an 
excruciating  sympathy  for  her  husband,  standing  as  he 
does,  the  representative  between  God  and  men ;  but  the 
hour  of  most  intense  anxiety  and  humiliation  with  him  may 
be  to  her  an  hour  of  unaffected  joy  and  silent  gratitude  for 
the  grace  bestowed  on  him  in  the  time  of  his  most  urgent 
need. 

"  Behold,  I  have  put  my  words  in  thy  mouth,"  said  God 
to  the  hesitating  prophet,  who  complained,  "  Behold  I  can- 
not speak,  for  I  am  a  child." 

The  simplicity  of  mind  and  singleness  of  purpose  with 
which  our  friend  was  accustomed  to  enter  the  pulpit,  nat- 
urally led  him  to  great  simplicity  in  the  construction  of 
language  as  a  channel  of  his  thoughts.  Had  the  same  in- 
struction been  given  to  him  which  was  given  to  Legh  Rich- 


220  MEMOIR     OF 


Tlit;  simplicity  of  his  ideas  and  language. 


mond  by  his  College  Tutor,  he  could  scarcely  have  more 
accurately  observed  it  :  "  Don't  use  terms  of  science.  The 
people  have  no  abstract  ideas.  They  cannot  understand 
comparisons  and  allusions  remote  from  all  their  habits. 
Take  words  of  Saxon  derivation,  and  not  Mich  as  are 
derived  from  Latin  and  Greek.  Talk  of  riches,  not  ajjlu- 
ence;  of  trust,  not  confidence.  Present  the  same  idea  in  a 
varied  form,  and  take  care  you  understand  the  subject  your- 
self. If  you  be  intelligent,  you  will  be  intelligible"  Wal- 
ton, like  Richmond,  was  not  satisfied  till  be  bad  explained 
an  idea  in  every  possible  variety  and  point  of  view,  and  for 
the  sake  of  the  humbli  intellect  of  some  portion  of  bis  audi- 
ence, did  not,  with  R  chmond,  fear  to  expose  himself  to 
the  remark,  "An  excellent  sermon,  but  with  too  many  vari- 
ous readings."  He  possessed  not,  indeed,  the  line  pencil 
of  that  eminent  moral  painter,  who,  amid  the  raptures  of 
his  deep  communion  with  the  scenes  of  nature,  caught  a 
spirit  that  made  the  canvass  glow,  as  it  were,  with  the  very 
coloring  of  Heaven.  You  might  imagine  that  an  angel 
would  feel  an  emotion  of  added  delight,  could  he  read  some 
of  those  eloquent  descriptions  of  the  works  of  God!  But 
the  subject  of  this  memoir  did  excel  in  laying  open  to  the 
view  the  attributes  of  God — His  eternal  and  unchangeable 
Law — the  windings  of  the  human  heart,  and  the  worth  of 
the  undying  soul !  Truth  for  the  conscience  requires  no 
painting. 

"March  2. — Have  just  returned  from  Winchester.  And 
what  shall  I  render  to  the  Lord  for  His  mercy  ?  It  was  a 
difficult  and  dangerous  journey.  I  never  saw  such  roads, 
and  I  was  stopped  nearly  two  days  by  high  water.  Travel- 
led all  night  last  night.  Have  slept  very  little  for  three 
days.  I  was  blest  ami  to  some  extent,  I  trust,  made  a  bles- 
sing in  W.  I  had  much  liberty  and  enjoyment  in  preach- 
ing." 

"  On   my   return  found   a  letter  from   brother  D of 

Harrisburg,  Pennsylvania,  requesting  my  assistance  at  a 
four  days'  meeting.     This  is  the  fifth   application  now  on 


WILLIAM    C.WALTON.  22 1 

Revival  In  Washington. 

hand,  besides  (hose  which  have  been  attended.  It  looks 
as  if  the  Lord  was  about  to  call  me  away  from  the  work  of 
a  Pastor  to  engage  in  something  of  a  different  nature. 
Well,  if  He  v.ili  only  be  with  me  and  give  me  a  fitness  for 
His  work,  I  desire  to  say,  '  Here  am  I,  Lord,  send  me.'  " 

"  My  nervous  feelings,  which  sonic  time  ago  were  so  dis- 
tressing, occasionally  trouble  me  now.  Sometimes  I  find  a 
great  difficulty  in  reading  the  lines  of  a  hymn  which  con- 
tain a  warning  of  sudden  death.  It  occurs  very  forcibly — 
suppose  I  were  to  die  while  reading  these  lines,  what  an 
impression  would  be  made  upon  the  minds  of  the  people. 
It  is  onlv  by  a  vigorous  effort  of  trust  in  God  that  I  am  able 
to  proceed." 

"March  20. — Commenced  last  night  a  weekly  Lecture 
on  Scripture  Characters.  I  did  not  enjoy  the  first.  I  have 
an  impression  that  my  people  do  not  take  much  interest  in 
such  subjects.  They  do  not  care  as  much  as  they  ought 
about  enlarging  the  scope  of  their  biblical  knowledge." 

"April  21. —  Lasl  Friday  week  a  four  days'  meeting  was 
commenced  in  Br.  Danforth's  church,  at  Washington  City. 
I  spent  nearly  a  week  there  with  brother  Patterson,  labor- 
ing in  the  two  chin;  lies  which  united  in  the  meeting,  and  a 
glorious  revival  is  now  going  on  there." 

"  This  afternoon  1  had  a  comfortable  time  at  the  funeral 
of  dear  sister  E.  W.,  one  of  my  spiritual  children,  who  died 
in  the  triumphs  of  faith.  She  told  me  she  blessed  God 
that  she  ever  saw  me — that  1  bad  been  the  instrument  of 
her  salvation.  She  bad  no  doubts  or  fears — desired  to 
depart  and  to  be  with  Christ — said  death  had  no  sting  for 
her.  She  had  been  raised  a  Catholic !  This  has  been  a 
comforting  event  to  me." 

"  I  rejoice  much  in  the  glorious  work  now  going  on  in 
Washington  City  and  in  many  other  parts  of  our  land. 
Even  -  Lord  Jesus  !   come  quickly  and    set  up  thy 

kingdom  in  all  the  earth." 

"Mai/  12. — This  day  commences  our  joint  four  days' 
meeting.  It  is  set  apart  for  fasting  and  special  prayer. 
This  morning  I  felt  more  engagedness  in  prayer,  and  more 
confidence  in  God  than  I  have  had  for  along  time.  I  have 
occasionally  for  a  long  time  past  been  troubled  with  unbe- 
lief and  hard  thoughts  of  God,  in  view  of  the  myriads  who 
have  perished  and  who  are  now  perishing.  It  has  been  a 
great  difficulty  with  me,  why  this  should  be  suffered  to  take 
19* 


222  MEMOIR    OF 


Invited  abroad.  Work  in  Alexandria. 


place  in  consequence  of  the  criminal  neglect  of  Christians. 
Yet  so  it  is.  I  see  there  is  provision  made,  and  believe  that 
if  Christians  would  do  their  duty,  the  progress  of  these  awful 
events  might  be  stopped." 

Applications  continued  to  be  poured  in  for  the  services 
of  IMr.  Walton  from  Middleburg,  Carlisle,  Baltimore,  Vir- 
ginia, Slc,  which  it  was  impossible  to  meet,  and  do  justice 
to  his  well-arranged  plans  of  usefulness  nearer  home.  He 
had  just  spent  eight  or  ten  days  at  different  times  in  co-op- 
eration with  us  at  Washington,  and  was  contemplating  fur- 
ther efforts  among  his  own  people. 

"May  21. — This  has  truly  been  one  of  the  days  of  the 
Son  of  man.  Our  church  was  more  crowded  than  I  ever 
saw  it.  Brother  P.  preached  his  last  sermon.  At  the  close 
there  was  a  pressing  forward  to  request  an  interest  in  the 
prayers  of  christians,  such  as  I  never  witnessed  before. 
The  Lord  has  far  exceeded  our  expectations.  He  has 
indeed  smiled  upon  our  joint  meetings.  O  for  more  of 
His  sanctifying  grace  to  fit  us  for  the  great  work  which  is 
now  before  us.  In  prayer  this  evening  I  felt  an  unusual 
desire  for  more  holiness,  more  right  feeling.  I  thought  I 
could  say  that  I  hungered  and  thirsted  for  righteousness." 

"During  these  meetings  my  children  have  been  much 
affected,  and  I  have  a  hope  that  they  are  under  the  saving 
influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit." 

No  more  solemn  meetings  were  ever  held  in  that  church 
than  those  at  this  period.  It  would  not  be  proper  to  quote 
the  description  which  Walton  gave  of  the  preaching  or  the 
preachers,  for  they  still  live,  but  in  depicting  the  overpow- 
ering eloquence  of  the  principal  speaker,  after  alluding  to 
a  torrent  of  feeling  which  burst  from  his  heart  and  flowed 
over  the  great  assembly,  he  says,  "One  of  his  tremendous 
stamps  broke  the  shade  of  the  pulpit  lamp,  and  it  fell  and 
made  a  great  noise,  but  did  not  disconcert  him  at  all.  He 
went  on  in  the  same  powerfid  strain,  and  I  do  not  know  but 
the  breaking  of  the  lamp  heightened  the  effect  of  the  dis- 
course." 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  223 

Adjustment  of  texts. 

Of  the  skillful  arrangement  and  just  adaptation  of  truth 
which  Walton  made  his  study,  we  have  an  exemplification 
at  this  time,  when  on  a  Sabbath  in  this  month  he  preached 
three  times  on  these  texts  : 

Morning,  Luke  xiii.  23  :  Lord  arc  there  few  that  be  saved  ? 

Afternoon,  Luke  xviii.  26  :    Who  then  can  be  saved? 

Evening,  Acts  xvi.  30  :  What  must  I  do  to  be  saved? 
At  the  conclusion  of  the  last  sermon,  he  invited  all  who 
would  now  begin  to  seek  salvation  to  come  forward,  that  he 
might  instruct  and  pray  with  them,  when  it  appeared  that 
from  thirty  to  forty  were  in  an  anxious  state  of  mind,  and 
accepted  the  invitation. 


CHAPTER     XIII. 


A  call  from  the  South. 


On  the  25th  of  May,  Mr.  Walton  received  a  communi- 
cation from  Rev.  W.  J.  Armstrong,  then  of  Richmond,  as 
the  organ  of  the  East  and  West  Hanover  Prcshyteries, 
informing  him  that  he  had  heen  unanimously  chosen  Mis- 
sionary Agent,  and  Evangelist  for  those  Presbyteries,  to  have 
the  general  superintendence  of  their  missionary  concerns, 
and  to  aid  the  cause  of  revivals  within  their  bounds  by  every 
means  in  bis  power.     An  ample  support  was  guaranteed. 

"  They  offer  you,"  says  the  letter''  aplenty  of  work,  afield 
white  to  the  harvest,  and  their  affectionate  co-operation  in  the 
service  of  the  Lord.  They  believe  that  you  would  make  sala- 
ry an  object  only,  so  far  as  that  was  requisite  to  enable  you  to 
provide  things  honest  in  the  sight  of  all  men.  If  you  incline 
to  regard  the  appointment  as  a  call  from  your  Master  to 
enlcr  into  this  work,  they  wish  to  hear  from  you,  what  you 
think  will  be  requisite  for  your  support,  and  they  will  then 
stand  ready  to  pledge  themselves  to  you  for  it.  Never  was 
there  a  time  when  the  labors  of  an  Evangelist  with  an 
unction  from  on  high,  would  be  productive  of  much 
greater  good,  than  the  present.  On  every  side  missionaries 
are  calling  for  aid  to  hold  lour  days'  meetings,  and  the  peo- 
ple are  crying  for  some  to  break  to  them  the  bread  of  life." 


MEMOIR     OF     WALTON.  225 

His  consideration  of  it.  Revival  at  Georgetown. 

"  The  subject  appears  to  mo,"  writes  Mr.  W.  in  his 
tliarv,  "to  be  immensely  important,  and  it  is  one  to  which 
my  thoughts  have  been  turned  for  nearly  two  years  past. 
It  would  be  a  wide  field  of  usefulness,  especially  as  it 
includes  Hampden  Sydney  College,  and  the  Union  Theo- 
logical Seminary.  But  it  requires  intellectual  and  moral 
qualifications  to  which  I  feel  that  I  have  no  jusl  pretensions. 
The  responsibility  of  such  a  station  would  be  tremendous. 
The  influence  which  such  an  agent  might  exert  upon  the 
Churches  would  be  great,  one  way  or  the  other.  If  the 
Lord  should  he  with  me,  and  give  me  wisdom  and  grace  to 
fit  me  for  such  a  work,  I  might  do  more  to  promote  his 
cause  in  five  years,  than  perhaps  I  should  do  in  ten  or  twenty 
in  any  other  capacity.  It  is,  however,  a  question  of  great 
importance,  whether  if  I  were  to  accept,  I  would  not  take 
the  place  of  some  brother,  who  would  be  far  better  qualified 
than  1  am  to  be  the  servant  of  those  Churches;  and  as  it 
is  the  first  attempt  of  the  kind,  if  the  experiment  should 
fail,  it  might  discourage  other  Presbyteries  from  adopting  a 
similar  measure." 

"  After  reading  brother  A 's  letter,  I  retired  to  seek 

Divine  direction,  and  opened  the  Bible  at  the  words  in 
Dan.  ii :  17 — 19.  It  relates  to  Daniel  requesting  his  three 
pious  friends  to  unite  with  him  in  seeking  mercy  of  the 
God  of  Heaven,  in  relation  to  a  secret  which  it  was  highly 
important  he  should  understand.  Then  was  the  stint 
revealed  unto  Daniel.  So  may  my  way  be  made  plain  by 
the  God  of  Daniel." 

"  May  31. — Within  a  few  days  have  received  invitations 
to  attend  four  days'  meetings  from  two  places  in  Fauqier 
county  ;  also  from  Baltimore,  where  I  expect  to  be  the  last 
of  this  week.  Have  just  returned  from  Georgetown,  where 
we  have  held  a  four  days'  meeting,  which  commenced  last 
Thursday  evening.  The  Lord  was  evidently  with  us  from 
the  beginning,  and  last  night  from  eighty  to  one  hundred 
persons  came  forward  to  request  an  interest  in  the  prayers 
of  the  Church.  Many  of  them  have  already  begun  to  indulge 
hope." 

"  June  1. — I  have  just  been  praying,  and  I  hope  sincerely, 
that  the  Lord  would  make  my  way  plain,  and  influence  my 
mind  to  come  to  that  decision  in  relation  to  my  proposed 
removal,  which  shall  be  pleasing  in  His  sight  and  most  for 
my  usefulness  and  his  glory." 


226  MEMOIR     OF 


Death  of  young  converts.  Assists  the  Methodists. 

"Jtuir  19. — Another  of  our  young  converts  has  died 
triumphantly.  The  Lord  manifested  himself  to  him  the 
night  before  his  death  in  a  most  glorious  manner.  I  feel 
thankful  lor  such  a  blessing,  and  much  encouraged  by  this 
and  several  other  similar  deaths  among  our  young  converts. 
E.  W.  and  J.  C,  precious  fruits  of  my  ministry  here,  are 
now  gone  before  to  welcome  me  I  trust  at  my  departure. 
Oh  that  I  may  be  as  signally  blessed  in  my  last  hours  as 
they  were;  and  have  grace  to  leave  a  triumphant  testimony 
to  the  reality  of  the  religion  I  profess  and  preach,  and  to  the 
faithfulness  of  my  Saviour." 

"  Lasl  Sabbath  we  admitted  twenty  persons  to  our  com- 
munion; I  was  quite  sick  in  the  morning;  hat;  all  the 
symptoms  of  a  bilious  lever,  and  could  not  sit  up  in  the 
bed,  and  when  I  got  up  could  hardly  walk,  until  after 
breakfast:  T  was,  however,  enabled  to  go  through  the  ser- 
vice alone,  and  preached  again  at  night  with  my  usual 
liberty." 

"July  16. — At  the  request  of  the  brethren  Davis  and 
Wilson  of  the  Methodist  Church,  I  have  been  with  them 
during  their  four  days'  meeting,  when  I  could;  exhorted 
anil  prayed  with  them." 

"  July  22. — Am  now  engaged  in  assisting  the  Protestant 
Methodist  brethren  at  a  four  days'  meeting.  Preached  last 
night  and  exhorted  to-day,  and  have  been  engaged  every 
night  this  week.  Received  three  letters  yesterday  solici- 
ting aid  at  four  days'  meetings,  and  where  the  Lord  is 
pouring  out  his  Spirit  ;  an<  one  to-day  to  attend  at  Mar- 
tinsburg,  third  Sabbath  in  August." 

"  July  ~:>. — Another  request  to  attend  a  four  days' 
meeting." 

"July  28. — Two  more  invitations  to  attend  four  days' 
meetings.  The  voice  oftheChurch  seems  to  be  calling  for 
a  wider  diffusion  of  my  labors,  while  it  seems  as  if  I  could 
do  but  little  here.  May  the  Lord  make  my  way  plain.  I 
am  very  feeble,  and  the  weather  is  exceedingly  oppressive. 
Still  I  am  enabled  to  get  through  all  my  labors  without 
entire  and  distressing  exhaustion." 

"  Aug.  30. — Returned  on  Saturday  night  last  from  my 
trip  to  the  Southern  parts  of  Virginia.  I  was  absent  nearly 
four  weeks,  the  whole  of  -which  was  a  time  of  great  mercy. 
No  disaster  occurred,  but  sickness  occasioned  by  incessant 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  227 


His  unwearied  labors,  and  the  greal  blessing  on  them. 


labor  and  excitement,  and  that  was  of  short  duration.  I 
had  much  liberty  in  preaching,  and  many  opportunities  of 
doing  good,  which,  though  with  many  imperfections,  I 
endeavored  to  improve.     The  meeting  which  I  attended  in 

conjunction  with  others,  resulted  in  the  hopeful  conversion 
of  nearly  two  hundred  souls,  so  far  as  facts  are  known.  In 
all  probability  some  hundreds  more  were  impressed  with 
the  importance  of  seeking  salvation,  and  instructed  how  to 
obtain  it,  with  a  degree  of  plainness  to  which  many  of  them 
had  not  been  accustomed." 

Such  were  the  incessant  labors  of  one,  whose  feeble 
body  was  utterly  inadequate  to  the  task  of  co-operating 
with  the  desires  of  his  soul.  Had  he  possessed  a  hundred 
such  souls,  they  would  all  have  spent  their  fires  in  this 
exalted  and  delightful  employment,  and  as  so  many  angels 
of  mercy,  would  have  urged  the  salvation  of  the  gospel  on 
dying  men.  But  he  had  only  one!  And  that  one  was 
allowed  only  a  brief  space  in  which  to  do  its  work  for  eter- 
nity !  Every  sermon  was — not  one  more — but  one  less. 
Every  hour  of  pregnant  time  carried  him  nearer  to  his 
account.  Every  exertion  of  his  frail  body  weakened  the 
power  and  wearied  the  strength  of  the  wheels  of  life.  In 
proportion  to  the  vigor  and  rapidity  of  the  pulsations  of 
his  soul,  would  be  the  propinquity  of  the  hour,  when  its 
mysterious  connection  with  the  body  would  terminate,  and 
its  connection  with  the  world  of  spirits  begin.  He  seemed 
to  labor  as  if  he  felt  the  truth,  "  That  life  is  long  which 
answers  life's  great  end."  After  his  services  at  Lynchburg, 
a  Christian  friend  said  to  him,  "  You  have  lived  a  whole 
ministerial  life  in  eight  days."  Among  the  subjects  of  this 
work  were  men  of  high  standing  in  society,  professional 
men  and  political  men.  To  a  relative  whom  he  had  not 
seen  since  her  childhood,  he  was  made  the  instrument  of 
salvation  ;  also  to  an  infidel  acquaintance,  who  renounced 
his  pernicious  sentiments,  and  avowed  his  conversion  to 
Christianity. 


228  MEMOIR    OF 


Journey  homewards. 


Returning  from  Lynchburg,  he  says : 

"  On  the  way  T  met  with  an  infidel  in  the  stage,  with 
whom  I  held  an  argument  for  three  or  four  hours.  I  hope 
with  some  good  effect  to  him — but  it  injured  me — when  I 
arrived  at  the  place  I  was  sick.  I  attended  a  meeting, 
assisted  in  conducting  it,  and  then  had  to  take  my  bed  for 
two  or  three  days.  I  preached  on  Monday  and  Tuesday  in 
great  weakness.  On  Wednesday  went  on  to  Mr.  Kirkpat- 
rick's  in  Cumberland;  preached  for  his  people  on  Thurs- 
day, and  was  strongly  solicited  to  attend  a  four  days'  meet- 
ing which  he  had  appointed  to  begin  on  Friday ;  but  I  was 
completely  worn  down  by  constant  fever,  &c;  and  my  ner- 
vous system  becoming  so  disordered  that  at  times  I  could 
hardly  control  my  feelings.  Tliis  brought  me  to  the  con- 
clusion that  it  was  not  my  duty  to  undertake  the  missionary 
agency  to  which  I  had  been  appointed  by  the  Missionary 
Board  of  the  two  Hanover  Presbyteries.  I  felt  satisfied  that 
I  had  not  strength  of  constitution  to  perform  the  duties 
which  it  would  devolve  upon  me.  I  accordingly  wrote  to 
brother  Armstrong,  declining  to  accept  the  appointment, 
and  instead  of  going  by  Richmond  as  I  had  intended,  I  set 
my  face  towards  home  in  such  a  state  of  weakness  and  dis- 
ease, that  I  did  not  know  how  far  J  should  be  able  to  prose- 
cute my  journey.  I  was  often  hardly  able  to  sit  up,  and  felt 
as  if  it  would  be  impossible  for  me  to  travel  much  farther  ; 
but  by  the  good  hand  of  my  God  upon  me,  I  was  brought 
safely  home  in  about  thirty  hours  after  leaving  Cumberland 
county,  a  distance  of  about  180  miles.  I  was  able  to 
preach  on  the  next  day,  (Sabbath)  with  a  good  deal  of  lib- 
erty and  comfort,  and  without  extreme  exhaustion.  I  found 
my  family  in  better  health  than  when  I  left  them,  and  my 
people  ready  to  welcome  me  home  again,  rejoicing  that  I 
had  determined  not  to  leave  them  for  the  present.  Surely 
goodness  and  mercy  have  followed  me  all  the  days  of  my 
life." 

"  Oct.  14. — I  have  now  on  hand  a  little  work  to  be  enti- 
tled, A  Manual  for  awakened  sinners,  but  my  time  for  wri- 
ting is  very  much  broken  in  upon  by  other  engagements. *' 

At  the  close  of  this  month,  he  attended  the  annual  meet- 
ing of  the  Synod  of  Philadelphia  at  Baltimore.     His  spirit 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  229 

Million  mi  the  work  of  the  Spirit. 

was  grieved  with  the  ecclesiastical  contentions  for  which 
thai  Synod  has  been  so  celebrated,  more  especially  as  they 
presented  so  striking  a  contrast  with  the  peaceful,  spir- 
itual meetings  of*  the  Synod  of  Virginia. 

"While  in  Baltimore,  Mr.    F.    (the  Baptist  preacher) 

showed  me  B  book,  just  from  the  London  press,  on  the 
work  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  conversion,  by  a  Mr.  Ilinton; 
in  the  introduction  of  which,  is  a  pretty  long  extract  from  a 
letter  of  mine  written  to  Dr.  Binder  in  1829,  and  by  him 
published  in  the  London  Evangelical  Magazine;  the  state- 
ments of  which  appear  to  have  suggested  to  Mr.  Ilinton 
the  subject  of  his  book.  When  I  wrote  the  letter,  it  was 
my  object  to  suggest  such  thoughts  as  would  lead  all  who 
might  read  it,  to  view  some  doctrines  and  modes  of  preach- 
ing in  a  light  in  which  I  had  reason  to  believe  they  were 
not  viewed  by  most  of  the  English  clergy  ;  and  I  rejoice 
that  my  labor  has  not  been  in  vain.  I  received  another  let- 
ter from  Dr.  Burder  a  few  days  ago  in  which  he  says 
that  he  is  inexpressibly  interested  by  the  accounts  he  has 
received  from  me  and  others  of  the  revivals  with  which 
our  country  was  blessed." 

The  following  is  the  letter  alluded  to  : 

Hackney,  June  22,  1831. 
"  My  dear  Brother, 

I  was  very  deeply  interested  in  your  kind  letter  of  Octo- 
ber, which  I  either  answered  long  ago,  or  designed  to 
answer,  and  certainly  ought  to  have  answered  much  before 
this  time.  Part  of  it  I  took  the  liberty  to  transcribe  for 
our  Evangelical  Magazine,  having  read  it  at  several  meet- 
ings of  ministers,  and  having  found  that  it  impressed  the 
minds  of  many.  I  was  particularly  struck  with  the  correct- 
ness and  importance  of  your  remarks  respecting  the  defective 
and  spiritless  manner  in  which  prayer  meetings  are  too  often 
conducted.  Yesterday  I  had  the  pleasure  of  receiving  your 
letters  which  bear  the  dates  of  Feb.  and  of  May  3;  and  as  I  am 
about  to  be  absent  from  home  for  a  month,  I  sit  down  instantly 
to  reply.  I  am  inexpressibly  interested  in  the  accounts  you 
give,  and  in  those  which  I  have  received  also  from  Dr.  S. 
and  Mr.  P.,  of  the  astonishing  and  glorious  revivals  of 
20 


230  MEMOIR     OP 


Letter  from  Or.  Burder. 


religion,  at  this  time  going  forward  in  your  favored  coun- 
try. What  hath  God  wrought!  Howl  should  rejoice  if 
one  or  two  of  those  ministers,  who  have  hecn  the  most  use- 
ful instruments  of  producing  such  effects,  were  to  visit  this 
country.  It  would  he  much  easier  for  them  than  for  us 
to  make  the  attempt  to  hold  meetings  hearing  some  resem- 
blance to  your  four  days'  meetings.  At  present  it  would 
be  very  difficult  for  any  of  us  to  induce  a  sufficient  number 
of  persons  to  enter  on  such  an  arrangement.  In  Hackney, 
three  of  our  churches,  and  a  fourth  in  the  vicinity,  unite  in 
a  half  yearly  meeting  for  special  prayer.  To-morrow  will 
he  the  return  of  the  day.  We  meet  in  our  separate 
churches  in  the  morning  at  7,  and  we  assemble  all  together 
in  the  evening.  We  wish  all  who  have  it  in  their  power 
to  spend  a  considerable  part  of  the  day  in  retired  devotion. 
But,  my  dear  brother,  we  see  around  us  nothing  approaching 
to  that  state  of  deep  and  anxious  feeling,  or  that  spiritual 
ardor  and  importunity  in  prayer  for  the  Holy  Spirit,  which 
you  have  the  happiness  of  witnessing!  Oh  that  a  better 
and  brighter  day  might  dawn  upon  us!  You  refer  to  the 
admirable  Whitefield.  I  think  with  you  that  a  good  life  of 
this  burning  and  shining  light  is  a  desideratum.  A  friend 
and  neighbor  of  mine  told  me  some  time  ago  that  he  had 
collected  ample  materials  for  this  purpose,  and  was  at  work 
upon  it.  I  will  take  the  first  opportunity  of  asking  him 
whether  the  work  is  in  progress. 

I  am  not  aware  that  your  excellent  little  work  on  the 
Divine  Sovereignty  as  connected  with  man's  responsibility, 
is  printed  in  this  country.  I  will  again  take  it  up,  and  with 
the  view  to  further  consideration  and  inquiry.  I  have 
now  relinquished  my  office  as  one  of  the  Tutors  at  Highbury 
College,  in  consequence  of  finding  my  pastoral  duties  quite 
sufficient  to  absorb  my  time  and  strength,  in  connection 
with  some  little  share  of  agency  in  the  London  Missionary 
Society,  and  some  kindred  institutions.  Our  May  meet- 
ings were,  as  usual,  well  attended,  and  the  reports  of  most 
of  the  great  societies,  were  upon  the  whole  encouraging. 
Many  of  the  meetings  were  held  in  a  new  and  very  splendid 
room  called  Exeter  Hall.  The  dimensions  are  130  feet  by 
70.  But  it  is  badly  constructed  for  the  voice.  May  our 
country  be  blessed,  as  yours  is,  with  the  glorious  effusion  of 
influence  from  above.     Pray  for  us.     Be  assured  that  your 


WILLIAM 

C  . 

WALTON. 

231 

Visit  to  Richmond. 

Praye 

tot 

Faith) 

letters  interest  me  deeply,  especially  on  the  subject  of  revi- 
vals, and  thai  I  am,  my  dear  brother, 

Most  cordially  your's  in  our  Lord, 

H.    F.    BlJRDER." 

"  Dcr  2. — A  week  aero  I  returned  from  Richmond,  where 
I  attended  a  very  interesting  meeting  protracted  for  six 
days.  There  were  from  twenty-five  to  thirty  hopeful  con- 
versions— and  others,  I  know  not  how  many,  were  awakened 
to  a  serious  concern  about  their  eternal  interests.  The 
two  Clenches  appeared  to  be  much  excited,  and  to  have 
received  some  views  of  duty  and  of  their  personal  respon- 
sibility, which  they  had  not  entertained  before.  A  very 
pleasanl  healthful,  and  vigorous  tone  of  pious  feeling 
appeared  to  be  left  by  the  meeting.  One  of  our  travelling 
companions — a  young  lady  from  Mass. — of  highly  cultiva- 
ted mind,  who  had  passed  through  seven  revivals,  was  the 
subject  of  a  happy  change,  and  returned,  we  hope,  with  a 
new  heart." 

"  Dec.    9. — Received  a  letter  from   brother  A of 

Richmond,  informing  me  that  the  good  work  progresses. 
Those  who  were  anxious  at  the  close  of  the  meeting  when 
I  came  away,  have  obtained  a  hope,  and  others  are  inquir- 

ins-" . 

"  Since  I  returned  home  I  discussed  the  subject  of  "  the 
Prayer  of  Faith,"  to  which  my  attention  was  turned  during 
the  meeting  at  Richmond  ;  the  night  following  I  was  wake- 
ful, and  my  thoughts  turned  to  the  same  subject  on  which 
I  had  been  speaking  at  the  meeting,  and  in  my  bed  I  took 
a  view  of  it,  and  formed  a  plan  of  a  discourse  or  treatise 
more  satisfactory  than  any  I  have  ever  seen.  Brother 
A writes  to  me  to  publish  it." 

"  In  some  of  my  private  exercises  lately,  I  have  felt  more 
like  getting  the  victory  over  my  besetting  sin — a  thirst  for 
fame,  than  ever  before.  I  am  conscious  that  by  indulgence 
it  has  gained  a  strength  with  a  great  power  of  annoyance ; 
but  I  trust  through  grace  to  gain  the  victory  ere  long.  The 
temptations  of  this  feeling  have  been  the  occasion  of  manv 
an  inward  conflict.  But  I  begin  to  feel  that  self  is  of  less 
importance  than  I  have  been  accustomed  to  think  he  was, 
or  than  he  would  make  himself  to  be." 

Mr.   Walton   continued   faithfully  preaching  the   truth 


232  MEMOIR     OP 


Ills  menial  anxieties  and  agonies. 


through  the  winter,  still  intent  on  the  one  great  business  of 
his  life,  and  with  orach  anxious  labor  endeavoring  to  pre- 
pare his  people  for  a  great  blessing  from  the  Lord.  He 
insisted  much  on  the  Bible  principle,  'The  Lord  is  with 
you,  while  you  be  with  him,  and  if  ye  seek  him,  he  will  be 
found  of  you,  but  if  ye  forsake  him,  he  will  forsake  you* 
He  reproved,  rebuked,  exhorted,  entreated.  His  anxiety 
for  the  success  of  the  gospel  among  those  entrusted  to  his 
care  was  such,  that  when  he  saw  his  plans  disappointed,  his 
heart  sunk  ;  he  was  overwhelmed  ;  he  became  sick — almost 
unto  death.  "  I  recollected  the  minister,  who  from  dejec- 
tion occasioned  by  surveying  the  ruins  of  London,  after  the 
fire  in  1CG5,  went  home  and  was  taken  sick  and  died  !  My 
nerves  were  much  and  painfully  affected.  *  *  *  I 
never  passed  through  such  a  trial  before,  and  I  was  going 
to  say,  I  hoped  I  never  should  again,  but  the  Lord  knows 
what  means  to  employ,  to  prepare  us  for  his  blessings." 
With  the  ardent  Paul  might  Walton  then  say,  '  My  little 
children,  of  whom  I  travail  in  birth  again,  until  Christ  be 
formed  in  you.'  These  anxieties  were  not  in  vain.  This 
"  continual  heaviness  and  sorrow  of  heart "  preceded  the 
dawn  of  light  and  the  birth  of  souls.  The  next  day  after 
some  of  these  agonizing  throes,  he  found  some  twenty  indi- 
viduals inquiring  the  way  of  salvation.  But  the  meetings 
which  he  held  at  this  time  though  solemn,  useful,  and  inter- 
esting, did  not  satisfy  his  burning  desires. 

"  March  5,  1832. — The  Church  seems  to  be  stupid  and 
asleep.  I  talked  and  sung  until  my  throat  felt  as  if  it  were 
excoriated.  Came  home  discouraged,  and  this  morning 
feel  so  still." 

"  April  9. — The  exercises  of  my  mind  for  three  weeks 
or  more  were  such  as  to  create  the  necessity  to  take  medi- 
cine frequently,  or  I  should  probably  have  been  confined  to 
a  sick  bed.  I  have  reason  to  believe  a  similar  cause  brought 
on  an  illness  to  my  wife  from  which  she  has  just  recovered. 
About  two  weeks  ago  I  visited  Jefferson  and  it  was  so 
ordered  that  I  arrived  just  in  time  to  assist  brother  T.  at 


WILLIAM    C  .    WALTON.  233 

Treatise  on  Intercessory  Prayer. 

his  communion  season.  He  had  no  prospect  of  assistance 
until  I  arrived.  I  preached  on  Friday  night ;  attended  lour 
meetings  on  Saturday  and  three  on  the  Sabbath,  besides 
the  communion  service.  On  Tuesday  evening  preached  at 
Leesburg;  much  exhausted  and  Celt  scarcely  able  to  ride 
home.  On  Thursday  T  spit  a  little  blood  ;  and  ever  since 
have  been  much  indisposed  with  a  severe  cold.  In  the 
midst  of  these  discouragements  and  difficulties,  I  hive  been 
enabled  to  complete  my  treatise  on-  Intercessory  prayer, 
which  T  have,  this  evening  sent  off  to  New  Haven  for  publi- 
cation in  the  Christian  Spectator." 

This  article,  which  was  pronounced  by  an  eminent  The- 
ological Professor  "  an  admirable  view  of  the  subject  and 
calculated  to  do  much  good,"  was  twice  re-published  in 
New  England.  The  main  point  in  question  is  thus  stated 
by  the  author  :  "  What  kind  of  prayer  does  the  Bible  teach 
us  to  believe  will  be  successful?  Or,  by  what  qualities 
must  our  prayers  be  characterized,  in  order  to  avail  much  ? 
Or,  with  what  conditions  are  the  promises  in  relation  to 
prayer  to  be  understood  ?  The  solution  of  this  question  in 
any  of  these  forms,  will  be  an  answer  to  the  question, 
which  has  so  often  been  discussed,  What  is  the  prayer  of 
faith  ?  No  matter  by  what  name  we  distinguish  it,  the 
great  object  is  to  ascertain  hoiv  to  pray,  so  as  to  obtain  the 
blessings  promised." 

Many  anxious  days  and  nights  did  our  friend  spend  in  the 
theoretical  and  practical  consideration  of  this  subject. 
When  his  ability  as  an  author  had  thus  become  known,  he 
received  requests  from  the  editors  of  various  important 
periodicals  to  contribute  to  their  pages. 

I  have  lately  been  perplexed  again  with  applications  to 
baptize  the  children  of  persons  who  are  not  professors  of  reli- 
gion ;  and  by  declining,  especially  in  the  case  of  Mrs.  M.,  I 
have  brought  upon  myself  obloquy  aiid  slander.  The  thing  is 
now  grossly  misrepresented.  A  catholic  woman  was  pres- 
ent while  I  was  talking  to  Mrs.  M.,  and  on  my  referring  to 
a  superstitious  notion  of  the  Catholics  on  the  subject  of 
20* 


234  MEMOIR    OP 


I)i  *iroM  another  field  Of  labor.  Invitation  from  Hartford. 


baptism — not  knowing  tliat  she  was  of  that  communion — 
she  broke  out  upon  me  in  a  rude  and  insulting  manner,  and 
would  not  allow  me  to  explain  my  views  to  Mrs.  M.  How- 
ever, this  does  not  affect  me  much.  I  am  resolved  while  I 
retain  my  present  opinions,  never  to  comply  with  such 
requests.  1  regard  it  as  a  prostitution  of  the  sacred  ordi- 
nance of  baptism." 

"  May  13. — My  mind  is  still  unsettled.  My  field  of 
labor  here  is  now  so  confined,  and  I  meet  with  so  little 
opposition  of  late,  thai  1  have  not  the  same  stimulus  to 
action  as  1  had  sometime  ago.  I  have  but  few  in  my  con- 
gregation, who  are  not  members,  and  I  find  my  desires  often 
leading  me  away  to  some  new  field  of  more  promise." 

"  June  4. — 1  set  apart  one  forenoon  last  week  for  special 
prayer  and  found  some  freedom  in  the  exercise.  It  is  good 
for  me  to  draw  near  to  God.  I  do  know  this  from  experi- 
ence— but  alas!  I  continually  fail  in  the  cultivation  of  a 
devotional  spirit.  There  is  now  a  strong- probability  that  I 
shall  not  continue  here  much  longer.  Other  fields  of  use- 
fulness are  opening  before  me ;  but  in  what  direction  I 
shall  go  I  know  not." 

Such  was  the  record  he  made  in  June.  In  August  fol- 
lowing, he  received  an  invitation  from  a  Church,  which,  he 
remarks,  "  I  did  not  then  know  to  be  in  existence — a  new 
Church  in  Hartford."  In  view  of  this  invitation  he  resolved 
to  visit  that  city.      Under  date,  Aug.  27,  he  says: 

"  I  expect  to  set  off  to-morrow,  if  the  Lord  will,  to  visit 
them.  1  think  1  have  sincerely  and  earnestly  sought  Divine 
direction  in  this  matter,  and  daily  do  I  implore  his  guidance. 
I  feel  that  vast  interests  are  depending  upon  my  decision, 
not  only  of  the  Church  hut  of  my  own  family.  The  differ- 
ence between  a  continuance  here  and  removing  to  such  a 
place  as  Hartford,  must  he  very  great.  God  only  knows 
which  would  he  most  favorable  to  my  usefulness  and  to  the 
interests  of  my  family  ;  and  my  only  comfort  in  reflecting 
on  the  subject  is,  that  to  Him  I  have  committed  the  affair, 
and  I  feci  a  persuasion  that  He  can  and  will  influence  my 
mind  to  the  right  derision.''  *  *  *  "  .My  consti- 
tution is  so  much  enfeebled,  and  my  nervous  system  is  so 
easily  excited  by  a  little  fever  or  by  exhaustion,  that  I  shall 


WILLIAM     C.    WALTON.  235 

Reflection!  oa  it. 

greatly  need  the  continual  presence  and  help  of  God  for 
my  protection  and  comfort.  This  I  have  often  sought,  and 
shall  continue  to  seek  as  my  only  security. 

I  trust  that  in  taking  this  journey,  I  am  not  seeking  my 
own.  If  I  know  my  own  heart,  my  supreme  ohject  is  the 
glory  of  my  Redeemer — my  usefulness  in  the  Gospel.  If 
I  were  convinced  that  this  ohject  would  be  most  promoted 
by  my  continuance  in  Alexandria,  I  would  with  cordial 
acquiescence  remain,  however  discouraging  may  be  my 
present  prospects.  But  every  view  I  can  take  of  the  subject 
leads  me  to  the  conclusion  that  a  new  field  of  labor  is  desi- 
rable, both  for  myself  and  for  the  Church  of  which  I  am 
now  pastor.  "Whether  it  will  appear  to  be  the  will  of  the 
Lord  that  I  should  remove  to  New  England,  I  know  not 
and  cannot  be  prepared  to  judge  without  visiting  the  Church 
that  has  invited  me.  This  view  of  the  subject  satisfies  my 
mind  that  I  am  in  the  path  of  duty  in  going,  and  with  this 
confidence,  I  shall  endeavor  cheerfully  to  trust  my  life  and 
health  and  family  in  the  hands  of  Him,  whose  I  am  and 
whom  I  serve.  May  his  mercy  pardon  all  my  sin,  and  may 
his  Spirit  sanctify  and  preserve  me  unto  his  heavenly  king- 
dom, and  to  his  name  shall  be  the  praise." 

"  Tuesday,  Sept.  18. — I  returned  this  morning,  having 
been  absent  just  three  weeks.  Truly  it  has  been  a  time  of 
mercy  both  to  me  and  to  my  family.  I  have  been  preserv- 
ed from  the  pestilence  in  passing  through  places  where  it 
prevailed,  and  from  the  dangers  incident  to  travelling.  I 
enjoyed  much  peace  and  confidence  in  God,  and  he  has 
been  with  me  in  my  labors.  Some  visible  success  appeared 
during  the  short  period  I  spent  in  Hartford — one  or  two 
conversions." 

The  members  of  the  congregation  to  which  he  preached 
were  so  favorably  impressed  with  the  piety,  ability,  and 
adaptedness  of  their  candidate  to  their  wants,  that  they  gave 
him  a  unanimous  call  to  settle  with  them  in  the  gospel 
ministry. 

In  speaking  of  the  manner  in  which  he  was  received  by 
the  members  of  the  Free  Church  and  others,  he  says  :  "I 
experienced  much  kindness  and  good  feeling  from  them, 
and  left  them  with  a  very  favorable  impression  and  a  deep 
interest  in  their  new  and  important  enterprise.     I  have  not 


236  MEMOIR     OP 

Beuoni  ftw  accepting  ii. 


yet  absolutely  decided  to  go.  My  heart  still  clings  to  Vir- 
ginia, my  own,  my  native  State,  and  if  I  could  see  it  to  be 
the  will  of  the  Lord  that  I  should  remain  in  this  region,  I 
would  not  go  abroad.  To-morrow  I  have  requested  a  meet- 
ing of  the  Session  to  lay  the  matter  before  them.  The  pas- 
tors and  churches  in  Hartford  appear  to  desire  me  to  come 
and  labor  among  them,  as  far  as  I  could  ascertain  their 
feelings.  Brother  Ilawes,  Spring,  and  Linsley  all  express  a 
strong  desire  on  the  subject.  Two  of  thein  expressed  their 
feelings  to  me;  brother  Hawes  had  not  the  opportunity, 
but  brother  Spring  informed  me  that  such  was  his  feeling. 
They  had  been  afraid  the  new  church  would  get  some  man 
with  whom  they  could  not  harmonize,  and  who  would  do 
mischief  among  them  by  disturbing  the  peace  and  order  of 
the  churches.  They  seem  to  have  no  such  fears  respecting 
me,  but  on  the  contrary  the  fullest  confidence.  So  far  as 
relates  to  the  state  of  things  in  Hartford,  the  way  appears 
perfectly  plain  ;  there  is  nothing  to  create  a  moment's 
doubt  or  hesitation.  The  only  thing  which  still  troubles 
me  is — ought  I  to  leave  the  South? — Virginia?" 

After  mucli  deliberation  and  prayer,  he  came  to  the  con- 
clusion that  it  was  his  duty  to  remove  to  New  England. 
The  following  is  his  reply  to  the  invitation  sent  him  : 

Alexandria,  Sept.  '25,  1832. 

"Since  I  received  your  letter  inviting  me  to  undertake 
the  pastoral  charge  of  the  Free  Church,  I  need  hardly  say 
that  it  has  been  my  constant  prayer  that  God  would  direct 
me  in  my  decision  and  make  the  path  of  duty  plain.  As 
to  the  importance  of  your  enterprize  I  have  no  doubt;  and 
as  to  the  correctness  of  the  principles  which  form  the  basis 
of  your  association,  I  am  equally  clear.  With  the  chris- 
tian spirit  that  seems  to  pervade  the  members  of  your 
church  I  was  peculiarly  gratified;  and  it  would  be  alto- 
gether congenial  to  my  feelings  to  labor  in  the  midst  of 
such  a  people.  Still  there  are  weighty  considerations  which 
have  excited  in  niy  mind  much  solicitude,  and  which  have 


WILLIAM     C.WALTON.  237 

Litter  to  the  Free  Church. 


caused  me  to  hesitate  in  taking  a  step  to  be  followed  by 
consequences  of  so  much  importance  to  all  the  parties  con- 
cerned. These,  however,  I  need  not  now  detail,  since  they 
have  been  overbalanced  by  other  considerations  which 
have  at  length  satisfied  me  that  it  is  my  duty  to  accept  your 
invitation.  I  am  willing  at  least  to  make  the  experiment, 
relying  on  your  zealous  and  faithful  co-operation  and  trust- 
ing in  God  for  success. 

Although  I  have  been  engaged  in  the  work  of  the  minis- 
try about  eighteen  years,  and  have  been  successively  the 
pastor  of  several  churches,  I  cannot  enter  upon  such  a  new 
field  of  labor,  without  a  deep  conviction  of  my  insufficiency 
for  the  work  which  will  there  devolve  upon  me.  1  am  aware 
that  much  will  be  expected  of  any  man  who  may  become 
your  pastor;  and  that  a  great  deal  of  hard  work  must  lie 
performed  in  order  to  the  success  of  your  enterprize.  But 
I  know  who  has  said,  '  My  grace  is  sufficient  lor  thee;'  and 
I  confidently  believe  that  the  resources  upon  which  I  depend, 
will  be  as  accessible  in  New  England  as  I  have  found  them 
in  other  situations.  With  this  belief,  I  feel  encouraged  to 
trim  my  lamp  and  to  gird  up  the  loins  of  my  mind;  and  to 
say,  in  reference  to  this  call  of  Providence,  'Here  am  I, 
Lord,  send  me  ! '  I  shall  rely,  dear  brethren,  much  upon 
your  counsels  and  prayers,  and  hope  that  every  member  of 
your  church  will  be  prepared  to  stand  in  his  lot  and  to  ren- 
der those  services,  without  which  the  labors  of  your  minister 
can  accomplish  but  little. 

I  must  now  prepare  to  sunder  the  lies  which  bind  me  to 
the  people  of  my  present  charge,  among  whom  I  have  labored 
so  pleasantly  for  the  last  five  years.  This  I  already  feel, 
by  anticipation,  to  be  the  most  painful  part  of  the  whole 
bu-  ess :  nor  will  it  be  less  trying  to  them,  as  might  be 
pre-  med  from  the  fact  that  nearly  all  have  been  gathered 
into  the  fold  of  Christ  by  my  ministry,  and  that  the  most 
entire  harmony  and  mutual  confidence  exist  among  us.  I 
trust,  however,  that  good  will  result  to  them,  as  well  as  to 
yo  i  and  myself  from  the  contemplated  change.  As  to  my- 
self, I  feel  that  1  need  the  excitement  which  a  new  field  of 
labor  will  furnish;  while  it  may  be  reserved  for  another  to 
accomplish  what,  in  the  iiature  of  the  thing,  I  could  not 
reasonably  expect  to  do,  were  I  to  continue  in  my  present 
sphere. 


238  MEMOIR    OP 


His  relation  i'>  bb  people. 


And  now,  dear  brethren,  I  have  only  to  add  in  language 
which  you  will  perfectly  understand,  "  prepare  me  a  lodg- 
ing, for  I  trust  through  your  prayers  I  shalJ  be  given  to  you  " 
about  the  first  of  November  next. 

You  will  of  course  regard  this  communication  as  addres- 
sed to  all  the  members  of  the  Committee,  to  whom  with 
the  Church  I  desire  you  to  present  my  cordial  and  fraternal 
salutations. 

W.  C.  Walton." 

I  lis  Alexandria  congregation  presented  the  unusual  spec- 
tacle of  an  assembly,  most  of  whom  were  in  covenant  with 
God  and  credible  professors  of  Christianity;  having  been 
converted  through  the  blessing  of  God  on  the  agency  of  their 
pastor,  and  consequently  feeling  the  confidence  and  affec- 
tion of  children  towards  their  spiritual  father. 

Next  to  the  ties  of  nature,  there  is  not  on  earth  a  more 
tender  relation  than  that  between  a  devoted  pastor  and  an 
affectionate  people.  He  had  come  to  them  when  they  were 
few  and  feeble — he  had  speedily  conceived  a  most  profound 
interest  for  their  eternal  welfare — he  had  visited  them  from 
house  to  house — participated  in  their  joys  and  sympathized 
in  their  sorrows — he  had  led  them  in  prayer  to  the  throne 
of  their  common  Father — he  had  watched  beside  the  bed 
of  the  sick  and  dying — he  had  committed  the  precious  dust 
of  the  dear  departed  to  its  final  resting  place  below,  and 
'wept  with  those  that  wept:'  above  all,  he  had  frequent- 
ly mingled  in  scenes  so  morally  beautiful  and  sublime,  that 
earth  cannot  furnish  their  superior,  heaven  could  scarcely 
wish  to  look  upon  brighter  !  I  mean  the  scenes  of  a  revi- 
val ;  these  were  renewed  year  after  year,  like  the  beauty  of 
spring  and  the  joyousness  of  summer,  and  under  their 
kindly  influence  many  were  ripened  for  heaven.  If  indeed 
the  faithful  minister  of  Christ  will  wear  a  diadem  that  shall 
sparkle  with  the  jewels  rescued  from  the  dust  and  ruins  of 
this  world,  and  polished  by  the  hand  of  the  Redeemer;  if 
'  the  joy  and  crown  of  his  rejoicing  '  are  to  be  souls  saved, 


W  I  I,  L  I  A  M     C.     WALTON.  239 

Tin  ii  demeanor  at  its  dissolution. 

well  may  he  labor  and  toil  while  the  day  lasts,  ere  the  sun 
of  his  life  shall  set,  and  his  Master  shall  call  him  home  to 
his  reward.  It  was  thus  that  Walton  was  cheered  on  to  the 
last.  Indeed  the  sentiment  that  animated  his  bosom  can- 
not better  be  expressed  than  by  the  sweet  stanza,  which  in 
his  dying  moments  he  requested  should  be  sung  : 

"  In  hope  of  tliat  Immortal  crown, 
i  now  the  cross  sustain, 
And  gladly  wander  up  and  down, 
And  smile  at  toil  and  pain.'' 


The  Presbytery  of  the  District  of  Columbia  convened  for 
the  purpose  of  considering  the  subject  of  his  removal. 

''Oct.  0,  183-2. — This  day  the  Presbytery  having  met  in 
our  church,  dissolved  the  pastoral  relation  between  myself 
and  this  church.  The  commissioners  appointed  by  the 
church  weie  instructed  to  make  no  opposition  to  the  grant- 
ing of  my  request,  but  to  refer  the  whole  matter  to  the  Pres- 
bytery. They  evinced  an  excellent  spirit  on  the  occasion. 
I  hear  no  petulant  complaints — no  censures — no  uncharita- 
ble ascription  of  bad  motives.  But  an  affectionate,  tender 
regard  for  me — distress  at  the  idea  of  a  separation,  yet  wil- 
ling to  hope  and  believe  that  it  may  be  for  the  best.  We 
had  a  meeting  last  night  to  explain  the  matter  to  them  and 
to  take  the  sense  of  the  congregation  for  the  direction  of 
the  commissioners.  I  spoke  to  them  at  some  length,  and 
have  reason  to  believe  that  the  feeling  I  have  manifested 
toward  them  has  produced  a  happy  effect.  I  had  a  meeting 
of  the  church  two  Sabbaths  ago  to  give  them  some  frater- 
nal and  pastoral  admonitions  in  reference  to  their  situation 
and  prospects.  I  have  reason  to  believe  these  have  also 
done  good.  Much  tender  and  solemn  feeling  has  of  late 
been  expressed  in  our  meetings,  particularly  this  evening. 
There  seemed  to  be  an  unusual  degree  of  spirituality  in 
the  exercises,  and  I  think  I  can  clearly  see  already  that  my 
anticipated  removal  is  blessed  to  them  in  this  respect,  that 
it  humbles  and  makes  them  feel  more  deeply  their  depen- 
dence upon  God." 

This  chapter  may  properly  be  closed  by  the  following 
letter  : 


240  MEMOIR    OF 


Letter  t<>  H.  F.  Uurdcr. 


To  Ri'v.  II.  F.  Hinder,  Loudon. 

Alexandria,  Sept.  25,  1832. 
"  Rfy  Dear  Brother, 

I  have  jusl  heard  of  an  opportunity  of  making  a  commu- 
nication to  you  and  gladly  embrace  it,  hoping  that  it  will 
be  the  means  of  drawing  from  you  a  reply  as  interesting  as 
your  last.  You  have  doubtless  seen  in  the  religious  peri- 
odicals frequenl  accounts  of  the  great  things  which  the 
Lord  is  doing  for  our  American  Zion.  During  the  last  year 
it  is  thought  that  at  least  one  hundred  thousand  souls  were 
brought  into  the  kingdom  of  Christ  among  the  different 
denominations  in  our  land.  It  was  a  year  of  unexampled 
prosperity  to  t he  Presbyterian  and  Congregational  churches. 
An  unusually  large  number  of  talented  and  influential  men 
have  been  brought  under  the  influence  of  divine  truth,  and 
are  now  its  bold  and  decided  advocates.  Gentlemen  of  the 
highest  stand  ig  a1  the  bar,  and  not  a  k\v  of  the  Honorable 
Judges  in  our  Civil  Courts,  have  given  themselves  and  con- 
secrated their  talent  and  influence  to  Christ  and  His  cause. 
Mr.  Wirt,  late  Attorney  General  of  United  States  and  now 
one  of  the  candidates  for  the  Presidency,  is  among  the  num- 
ber. He  was  for  many  years  an  infidel,  but  he  now  ac- 
knowledges that  he  was  never  satisfied  with  the  principles 
of  infidelity,  and  never  felt  that  it  was  safe  ground  to  rest 
upon.  At  length  by  some  means  he  was  led  to  take  up  the 
question  of  Christianity  as  he  would  a  question  of  Law,  and 
after  giving  it  the  most  thorough  investigation,  he  came  to 
the  conclusion  that  it  was  divinely  authenticated.  His 
luminous  mind  could  not  resist  the  overpowering  evidence 
by  which  it  w  is  supported,  and  lie  renounced  his  infidelity 
forever.  He  did  not,  however,  at  that  time  follow  up  his 
convictions.  It  was  not  until  last  year  that  he  made  an 
open  profession  of  religion  and  united  with  the  Presbyterian 
church.  I  received  this  account  from  an  intimate  friend 
of  his,  to  whom  he  related  the  exercises  of  his  mind  on 
the  subject  of  religion.  This  and  some  similar  facts  which 
have  come  under  my  own  observation,  have  reminded  me  of 
the  predictions  contained  in  Ix.  chapter  of  Isaiah  : — '  The 
sons  of  stran  rers  shall  build  up  thy  walls  and  their  kings 
shall  minister  unto  thee.  The  sons  also  of  them  that 
afflicted  thee  sh  ill  come  bending  unto  thee,  and  all  they 
that  despised  thee  shall  bow   themselves  down  at  the  soles 


WILLIAM     C.    WALTON.  24 1 

Protracted  meetti  New  measures  and  old  mea 


ofthy  feet,  ami  they  shall  call  thee  the  city  of  the  Lord,  the 
Zion  of  the  Holy  <  >ne  of  Israel.' 

The  work  of  God  has,  doubtless,  been  greatly  promoted 
by  what  we  call  protracted  n  1 1  tings.  These  bring  the  power 
of  truth  to  bear  upon  the  consciences  of, men  for  several 
davs  in  succession,  while  ministers  and  Christians  who  co- 
operate,*    LABOR      \\l»    PRAY    FOR    AND    EXPECT    IMMEDIATE 

resi  i.is.  i>.o  well  conducted  meeting  of  this  description, 
so  far  as  my  knowledge  extends,  has  passed  away  without 
being  productive  of  visible  good,  and  often  scores  and  some- 
times hundreds  are  thus  brought  into  the  kingdom  of 
Christ.  Like  all  other  means,  however, they  may  be  abused 
by  injudicious  and  extravagant  men.  The  general  subject 
lias  been  much  discussed,  and  1  hope  that  our  ministers  are 
now  pretty  well  enlightened  both  as  to  the  good  to  be  ex- 
pected, and  the  evils  to  be  guarded  against.  The  subject 
of  intercessory  prayer  has  engaged  more  attention  than 
formerly.  Three  discussions  on  that  subject  appeared 
about  the  same  time,  one  of  which,  being  my  own,  I  send 
with  this  communication  to  a  friend  in  Liverpool  with  a 
request  to  have  it  forwarded  to  you.  It  would  be  gratifying 
to  me  to  have  your  views  with  respect  to  some  parts  of  it, 
especially  as  to  what  I  have  advanced  under  the  head  of 
co»  fid  one  in  prayer. 

It  was  lately  stated  to  me  by  a  clerical  friend  that  he  had 
seen  in  some  English  work,  he  thought  a  production  of 
yours,  a  notice  of  an  edition  of  my  little  volume  on  the 
Doctrine  of  Divine  Sovereignty  viewed  m  connexion  with 
man's  responsibility,  published  in  London.  Will  you  please 
to  inform  me  whether  this  information  be  correct? 

The  peace  of  the  churches  has  been  much  disturbed  for 
several  years  past  by  a  controversy  respecting  ability  and 
inability — new  measures  and  old  measures.  There  are 
those  among  us  who  are  afraid  of  detracting  somewhat  from 
the  honor  of  sovereign  grace,  by  insisting  upon  the  immedi- 
ate performance  of  all  the  duties  which  the  bible  enjoins 
upon  both  believers  and  unbelievers  ; — I  mean  in  the  same 
way  that  the  Bible  does,  without  stopping  to  tell  them  in 
the  same  breath  that  they  have  no  ability  to  perform  these 


*  The  duty  of  praying  for  a  special  and  present  blessing  while  ministers  are  preach- 
ing, is  much  insisted  upon. 


21 


242  MEMOIR     OF     WALTON. 

Distinction  between  human  and  divine  agency. 

duties.  They  stop  to  qualify  their  statements  on  these  sub- 
jects, and  to  give  such  explanations  respecting  the  sinner's 
dependence  on  divine  grace,  as  serve  to  ease  off  the  pressure 
of  obligation  and  to  quiet  the  conscience,  while  submis- 
sively waiting  for  divine  grace  to  do  every  thing  for  him. 
Meanwhile  very  little  is  said  about  the  guilt  of  rebelling 
against  God  and  persisting  in  that  rebellion  after  duty  is 
known.  Ministers  of  this  class  appear  to  have  given  but 
little  attention  to  the  great  principles  of  the  moral  govern- 
ment of  God,  the  foundation  of  moral  obligation,  and  the 
manner  in  which  God  deals  with  creatures  who  still  pos- 
sess, though  ever  inclined  to  pervert,  the  powers  of  moral 
agency.  They  seem  to  make  no  distinction  between  that 
kind  of  operation  which  is  necessary  to  transform  an  idiot 
into  a  rational  creature,  and  that  which  is  required  to  a 
change  of  disposition  in  a  voluntary  transgressor.  Espe- 
cially do  they  appear  to  overlook  the  fact  that  the  change 
necessarily  implies  the  art  of  the  sinner  himself;  that  while 
the  divine  efficiency  is  acknowledged,  the  nature  of  the 
case  requires  the  voluntary  agency  of  the  sinner  in  turning 
away  from  sin  and  submitting  to  God.  Overlooking  this 
point,  they  fail  to  urge  upon  sinners  the  doing  of  that  which 
is  as  essential  to  their  conversion  as  the  divine  agency  itself. 
These  brethren  moreover  seem  to  think  there  are  compara- 
tively no  evils  to  be  guarded  against,  excepting  those  of 
extravagance  and  innovation." 


CHAPTER     XIV 


Arrival  at  Hartford. 


On  the  31st  of  October,  Mr.  Walton  with  his  family 
arrived  safely  in  Hartford,  the  field  of  his  future  labor  and 
the  place  of  his  final  rest.  "  On  our  journey  my  eyes  were 
ever  toward  the  Lord,  trusting  in  Him  for  protection  and 
for  all  things  necessary  for  us ;  and  I  enjoyed  such  a  meas- 
ure of  peace  as  leads  me  to  believe  my  mind  was  stayed 
upon  Him.  As  we  approached  this  city,  thinking  of  the 
new  and  important  field  of  labor  upon  which  I  was  about 
to  enter,  and  how  much  depended  upon  the  success  of  the 
experiment,  very  peculiar  emotions  were  excited  in  my 
mind ;  but  I  did  not  sink  in  despondency.  I  was  and  still 
am  supported  by  a  hope  approaching  to  confidence,  that  God 
will  be  with  me  and  prosper  my  labors  here." 

"Dec.  11. — Before  leaving  Alexandria,  we  received  so 
many  and  such  substantial  proofs  of  affection  from  our  dear 
people  there,  that  I  felt,  in  the  possession  of  their  affections 
and  in  the  many  spontaneous  expressions  of  good  will  and 
of  regret  at  my  leaving  the  place  from  others,  richer  than  if 
the  wealth  of  the  town  had  been  made  my  own.  I  never 
had  before  known  how  much  my  labors  were  appreciated, 
nor  what  a  hold  I  had  upon  their  affections ;  and  truly  I 
can  say  the  same  with  regard  to  my  feelings  towards  them. 
They  will  ever  be  dear  to  my  heart ;  and  Alexandria  will 


2  1  1  M  E MOIR     OP 


An  appalling  discovery. 


ever  be  a  name  associated  with  the  most  delightful  recol- 
lections." 

While  memory,  moved  by  feeling,  thus  embraced  the 
past  in  its  fond  endearments,  judgment  suggested  that 
the  present  must  be  improved  and  the  future  anticipated. 
In  good  earnest,  therefore,  he  commenced  his  labors  among 
his  new  people.  At  one  meeting,  "  some  two  or  three  were 
considerably  impressed,"  and  indications  of  good  things 
from  the  Spirit  of  God  cheered  his  labors. 

A  singular  occurence  in  the  pulpit  on  a  Sabbath  after- 
noon at  first  much  disconcerted  him,  but  finally  proved  that 
there  is  a  source  to  which  faithful  ministers  in  desperate 
extremities  can  confidently  repair. 

"In  the  afternoon,  while  they  were  singing  the  second 
hymn,  I  made  the  appalling  discovery  that  I  had  left  my 
notes  in  my  study!  It  was  a  new  train  of  thought  which 
I  had  not  made  familiar,  and  I  feared  I  might  not  be  able 
to  collect  it.  What  could  I  do  ?  I  thought  of  taking 
another  subject,  but  none  ocenrred.  The  only  resource  left 
was  to  look  to  the  Lord  for  help  ;  and  blessed  he  I  lis  name 
He  did  help  me.  I  was  enabled  to  colled  nearly  the  whole, 
although  there  were  ten  or  eleven  distinct  items.  I  felt 
that  it  was  the  more  embarrassing,  because  there  were  a 
considerable  number  of  intelligent  men  present,  who  had 
not  been  to  hear  me  before.  I  was  very  near  asking  the 
church  to  pray  for  me,  without  mentioning  the  cause,  but 
Baying  there  was  a  special  cause.  However,  I  concluded 
not  to  do  so,  as  it  might  operate  unfavorably.  O  for  a  heait 
to  be  thankful  lor  tins  special   mercy  !  " 

"Dec.  23. — The  congregation  increases,  and  there  lis 
much  that  appears  encouraging.  Last  Sabbath  evening  I 
appointed  an  inquiry  meeting — a  few  attended.  Last  eve- 
ning, (Saturday)  quite  a  large  number  of  young  people 
attended  our  meeting,  and  I  had  unusual  liberty,  and  there 
was  much  solemnity." 

Again  he  expresses  his  conviction,  that  "there  is  a  wide 
field  of  usefulness  here  for  me  ;  it  seems  to  be  opening  every 
week." 


WILLIAM     C.     WALTON.  245 


Ffffect  Of  the  truth.  A  protracted  meeting. 

"Jan.  1,  1883. — Was  much  assisted  and  encouraged 
last  Sabbath.  In  the  evening  some  remained  after  the 
congregation  was  dismissed.  A  new  case  of  awakening 
under  the  discourse,  the  notes  of  which  I  had  mislaid — '  Is 
there  not  a  cause ? '  *  *  *  "I  think  my  own  mind 
becomes  more  solemn,  and  my  interest  in  the  church  and 
in  the  salvation  of  sinners  here  increases."  *  *  *  "Two 
interesting  young  men  came  to  me  this  morning.  It  seems 
they  have  set  apart  this  day  for  fasting  and  prayer.  They 
have  been  much  aroused.  One  stated  that  he  had  given 
up  his  hope.  He  has  seen  that  he  has  mistaken  the  nature 
of  religion.  Under  the  discourse  from  the  words,  '  Restore 
unto  me  the  joy  of  thy  salvation,'  he  thinks  he  surrendered 
his  heart  to  the  Lord.  Others  have  experienced  similar 
exercises — some,  as  I  am  informed,  from  other  churches." 

Having  witnessed  the  happy  results  of  protracted  meet- 
ings in  the  sphere  of  his  former  labors,  he  resolved  in  con- 
nection and  in  concurrence  with  the  brethren,  to  set  apart 
days  for  a  holy  convocation,  at  which  the  great  interests  of 
eternity  should  be  urged  on  immortal  minds,  and  fervent 
prayers  offered  for  the  salvation  of  sinners.  This  meeting 
commenced  on  the  8th  of  January,  the  day  previous  to  his 
installation.  Speaking  of  this  meeting  under  date  Jan.  25, 
he  says  :  "  Truly  it  has  been  a  time  of  deep  interest ;  prob- 
ablv  among  the  most  important  events  connected  with  my 
life  and  labors.  Brothers  Lansing  and  Norton  assisted  me 
for  one  week  ;  then  brother  N.  alone  for  another  week  ; 
now  brother  Kirk  is  laboring  with  us.  The  church  has 
been  greatly  blessed.  The  hearts  of  professors  have  been 
thoroughly  searched  ;  many  have  been  humbled,  confessed 
their  sins,  and  rectified  evils  which  had  been  covered  up 
and  more  or  loss  darkening  their  prospects  and  burdening 
their  consciences  for  a  long  time." 

"  On   Friday  after  the   commencement  of  the  meeting, 

the  church  were  called  up  to  renew  their  covenant.     The 

ministers  followed,  and  one  of  the  brethren  prayed  for  us. 

This  was  a  time   of  deep   solemnity  and  deep   feeling.     I 

21* 


246  MEMOIR     OF 


Its  solemn  effects. 


was  almost  overpowered  by  my  feelings,  and  the  exercises 
of  this  day  seemed  to  give  the  most  decisive  impulse  to  the 
work  of  God."  *  *  *  "  This  (Saturday)  evening  I 
believe  more  conviction  was  produced  than  has  been  pro- 
duced any  evening  since  the  meeting  commenced.  Our 
church  have  kept  two  days  of  Fasting  and  prayer,  and  exhibit 
every  appearance  of  increased  engagedness,  and  the  work  is 
now  in  a  more  encouraging  state  than  it  has  been  at  any 
former  period.  I  have  been  sick  for  three  days,  though  not 
confined  to  my  bed,  taking  medicine,  yet  still  attending  to 
my  public  duties." 

"Jan.  31. — The  interest  increased  until  the  last  evening 
that  brother  Kirk  continued  with  us.  Multitudes  went 
away  who  could  not  get  into  the  house.  Last  night  the 
house  was  full  again,  and  I  preached.  The  number  of  in- 
quirers appeared  to  be  quite  as  great  at  the  close,  though 
not  so  many  people  attended. 

"Feb.  8. — This  evening  had  an  interesting  and  profitable 
meeting  of  young  men  at  my  house.  To  see  so  many  who 
had  recently  given  their  hearts  to  the  Lord  together,  and  to 
hear  them  pray  and  tell  what  God  had  done  for  their  souls 
was  indeed  delightful.  I  have  just  enjoyed  a  sweet  season 
of  prayer,  and  had  more  decisive  evidence  of  right  /tiling 
in  that  prayer  than  1  have  had  before  for  a  long  time.  I 
feel  that  I  do  desire  to  see  the  Redeemer  honored  by  the 
conversion  of  sinners,  and  my  faith  is  stronger  and  more 
intelligent  than  ever  before." 

"I  have  been  confined  almost  entirely  to  my  bouse  by  a 
heavy  cold  for  the  last  few  days.  I  never  desired  health, 
and  strength  and  ability,  to  labor  a  great  deal  for  the  Lord, 
so  much  as  1  do  now.  1  feel  as  if  1  never  had  so  great 
a  work  to  do;  and  yet  I  sometimes  feel  as  if  my  best  ener- 
gies had  been  expended  in  Alexandria,  so  that  I  can  never 
labor  again  as  I  did  then.  But  the  Lord  knows,  and  he  can 
and  will  give  me  grace  sufficient  for  me." 

About  this  time  he  published  a  pamphlet,  entitled  "  Prep- 
aration for  Special  Efforts  to  promote  the  work  of  God,"  a 
discourse  founded  on  Judges  v.  23.  '  Curse  ye  Meroz, 
curse  ye  bitterly  the  inhabitants  thereof,  because  they  came 
not  to  the  help  of  the  Lord,  to  the  help  of  the  Lord  against 
the  mighty.'     In  the  preface  he  says,  that  in  attending  pro- 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  247 

Publish. d  B  pamphlet. 


traded  meetings,  he  has  "often  had  occasion  to  lament 
the  necessity  of*  occupying  so  much  of  the  time  in  preach- 
ing to  Christians,  in  order  to  prepare  their  minds  for  taking 
hold  of  the  work  ;  time  and  labor,  which,  if  they  were  in 
the  right  state  of  mind,  might  be  devoted  to  the  impenitent. 
Conversions  might  then  be  expected  to  take  place  from  the 
first,  instead  of  waiting  till  the  meeting  is  far  advanced,  to 
see  the  salvation  of  God.  It  has  therefore  occurred  to  him 
that  a  Tract,  adapted  to  arouse  the  minds  of  Christians  to  the 
right  state  of  feeling,  and  to  explain  the  connection  between 
the  right  employment  of  well  adapted  means,  and  the  con- 
version of  sinners,  and  giving  to  Christians  clear  views  of 
the  responsibility  resting  upon  them  in  relation  to  this  mat- 
ter, guarding  at  the  same  time  against  an  unscriptural  reli- 
ance on  the  use  of  means,  might,  under  the  blessing  of  God, 
be  extensively  useful.'  Of  this  pamphlet  two  hundred 
copies  were  sold  in  two  days.  It  is  -marked  by  the  usual 
good  sense,  fervent  piety,  and  accurate  discrimination  of 
the  author.  It  was  read  by  various  ministers  to  their 
people." 

"  March  16. — I  have  been  in  doubt  about  the  propriety 
of  publishing  a  narrative  of  our  protracted  meeting ;  my 
judicious  friends  advise  it  strongly,  and  I  am  now  prepar- 
ing it." 

This  narrative  was  first  published  in  the  New  York  Evan- 
gelist, and  as  it  presents  a  much  better  view  of  the  orio-in 
and  progress  of  the  revival  than  it  is  possible  for  the  writer 
to  give,  large  extracts  follow  : 

Hartford,  June  8,  1S33. 
"  Dear  Brother — A  more  particular  account  than  has  yet 
been  given  of  the  protracted  meeting  held  in  the  Free 
Church  in  this  city,  has  long  been  expected.  For  various 
reasons,  however  it  has  been  del  lyed.  But  inquiries  which 
have   recently  been   made  by  friends  from  different  quar- 


248  MEMOIR    OP 


Account  nl  till'  revival 


ters,  have   convinced   me   that  it   should   be  withheld    no 
longer.       *       *       * 

The  meeting  commenced  with  the  services  connected 
with  my  installation.  These  were  appropriate  and  impres- 
sive. On  the  following  day  the  preaching  was  addressed 
chiefly  to  the  ( 'hurch.  The  tone  of  feeling  was  much  rais- 
ed, and  expectation  was  high.  Nothing  however  was  done 
to  ascertain  the  extent  of  this  feeling,  until,  on  the  third 
day,  the  indications  were  such,  at  the  close  of  the  after- 
noon discourse,  as  to  make  it  manifestly  proper  to  call  upon 
Christians  present,  to  renew  their  covenant  with  God,  and 
bind  themselves  to  more  fidelity  in  his  service  ;  especially 
to  do  more  than  they  had  ever  done  to  save  the  souls  of 
perishing  men.  It  was  an  hour  of  deep  solemnity.  It 
seemed  to  have  a  real  and  most  intimate  connection  with 
the  scenes  of  a  coming  eternity.  My  own  responsibilities 
pressed  upon  me  with  an  unusual  weight.  I  had  just  then 
assumed  the  charge  of  a  new  Church,  the  character  of 
which  was  to  be  formed,  in  a  great  degree,  under  my  influ- 
ence, and  the  success  of  which  depended  much  upon  my 
fidelity.  I  felt  my  need  of  Divine  assistance.  I  felt  too 
that  it  would  be  a  privilege  to  have  an  interest  in  the 
prayers  of  so  numerous  an  assembly  of  Christians.  And 
as  we  (ministers)  had  been  offering  up  our  prayers  on 
behalf  of  those  who  had  renewed  their  covenant,  there 
seemed  to  be  a  propriety  in  our  saying  to  them  in  return — 
'  Brethren  pray  for  us.'  This  was  accordingly  done,  and 
thus  the  services  of  that  occasion  closed.        *       '*        * 

On  a  subsequent  occasion,  the  state  of  feeling  appeared  to 
justify  a  call  to  those  whose  minds  were  affected  by  Divine 
truth  to  come  out,  and  by  taking  appropriate  seats,  to 
express  their  feelings  and  intentions.  A  considerable 
number  promptly  complied  with  the  invitation;  and  it  was 
done  with  no  more  confusion  than  is  generally  witnessed 
in  Presbyterian  Churches  on  sacramental  occasions,  where 
the  custom  is  for  those  who  confess  Christ  before  men,  to 
separate  themselves  from  the  rest  of  the  congregation,  and 
to  take  their  seats  at  the  communion  table.  Such  scenes 
are  often  exceedingly  impressive,  and  have  been  the  occa- 
sion of  the  conversion  of  many.  After  the  service  closed, 
those  persons  were  requested  to  remain  a  short  time  for 
special  instruction  and  prayer.  A  new  impulse  was  thus 
given  to  the   feelings  and  the  prayers   of  Christians,  and 


W  ILLUM     C .     W  ALTON.  240 


Reasons  for  assembling  the  anxious. 


some  impenitent  persons  were  more  solemnly  impressed  by 

seeing  others  take  this  step,  than  by  any  thing  they  had  ever 
witnessed  or  heard  before.  It  seems  to  have  had  the  effect 
of  bringing  the  question  of  their  own  duty  more  clearly 
and  impressively  before  their  minds,  and  of  enforcing  an 
immediate  compliance.  Some  when  thus  pressed  on  the 
duty  of  coming  out  on  the  Lord's  side,  were  made  sensible 
of  the  opposition  of  their  hearts  to  this  duty,  and  to  God  ; 
a  feeling  which  had  never  before  been  so  clearly  elicited. 
Some  who  felt  it  to  be  a  trial  to  take  this  step  publicly, 
reflected  that  if  they  ever  became  Christians  they  must, 
sooner  or  later,  come  out  from  the  world  and  break  through 
the  obstacle  which  had  held  them  back  from  this  duty  ;  that 
as  they  had  sinned  publicly,  it  was  but  reasonable  that  they 
should  confess  it  publicly  ;  and  furthermore  they  reflected 
that  any  feeling  of  pride  which  would  prevent  them  from 
professing  before  men  their  concern  on  the  subject  of  reli- 
gion, would  oppose  their  submission  to  God  under  any  cir- 
cumstances. They  saw  that  the  feeling  itself  was  wrong, 
and  that  the  sooner  it  was  overcome  the  better.  In  some 
instances  when  this  victory  was  gained  and  the  person  came 
forward,  every  other  opposing  feeling  seemed  to  give  way 
and  instant  relief  was  felt.  And  there  ar  some  who  are 
persuaded  that,  however  this  measure  may  affect  others,  it 
was  so  far  as  they  can  judge,  the  only  thing  that  was  adapt- 
ed to  bring  their  irresolute  minds  to  a  decision.  They  had 
often  been  impressed  before  ;  but  having  resisted  their  feel- 
ings and  silenced  their  convictions  by  delay,  they  had 
almost  given  up  the  last  hope  of  ever  coming  to  a  different 
state  of  mind.  And  it  appeared  to  them  very  certain  that 
if  they  did  not  act  out  their  feelings  on  this  occasion,  their 
case  would  be  a  desperate  one.  By  coming  out  and  taking 
their  seats  with  the  anxious,  they  felt  themselves  committed 
to  go  forward  ;  and  they  rejoiced  in  having  done  so.  But 
most  commonly  the  house  was  too  much  crowded  to  admit 
of  any  such  separation.  When  this  was  the  case,  the  anx- 
ious were  requested  at  the  close  of  the  service,  to  retire  to 
the  Lecture  Room  in  the  basement  story,  while  Christians 
remained  in  the  church  to  pray ;  and  it  was  deeply  solemn 
and  interesting  to  hear,  faintly,  the  voice  of  singing  and 
prayer  above,  while  surrounded  with  scores,  and  sometimes 
hundreds,  who  professed  to  be  more  or  less  concerned  about 


250  MEMOIR    OF 


Results  and  characteristics  ol"  the  work. 


the  salvation  of  their  souls.  Such  were  our  circumstances 
night  after  night  for  about  two  weeks,  while  a  considerable 
Dumber  every  day  were  emerging  nut  of  darkness  into  the 
glorious  light  and  liberty  of  the  gospel. 

The  meeting  was  continued  about  three  weeks,  part  ot 
which  time  there  were  three  public  services  each  day, 
besides  prayer  meetings,  and  meetings  for  inquirers.  Du- 
ring the  last  week  or  ten  days,  there  were  only  two  public 
meetings  a  day — in  the  afternoon  and  evening.  Everyday 
strangers  cam;'  in  from  the  country;  not  a  few  of  whom 
returned  home  with  a  new  song  in  their  mouths,  with  a 
resolution  to  spend  their  remaining  daya  in  the  service  of 
God.  One  has  already  been  instrumental  in  promoting  a 
revival  in  the  neighborhood  where  he  resides.  Others  have 
commenced  prayer  meetings  and  other  efforts  to  do  good. 
Some  of  the  converts  are  from  other  states  ;  a  number  from 
the  adjacent  towns,  and  many  from  other  congregations  in 
this  city.  The  number  cannot  be  accurately  estimated. 
Where  many  are  daily  beginning  to  indulge  hopes,  for  two 
or  three  weeks  successively,  often  in  the  midst  of  a  crowd, 
and  where  no  opportunity  is  given  to  take  their  names,  and 
most  of  them  strangers,  it  is  exceedingly  difficult  to  make 
such  an  estimate.  I  have  before  expressed  the  opinion,  and 
still  believe  thai  there  were  between  two  and  three  hundred 
cases  of  hopeful  conversion,  besides  many  children  whose 
names  were  not  taken.  But  on  this  subject  I  would  not 
express  confidence.  The  Lord  knoweth  them  that  are 
his.       *       *        * 

CHARACTERISTICS    OF    THE    WORK. 

1.  It  was  remarkably  free  from  animal  excitement. 
There  was  indeed  strong  feeling,  but  it  was  produced  by 
clear  and  forcible  exhibitions  of  truth.  There  were  no 
outcries  nor  bodily  agitations.  Eyes  indeed. wept  that  had 
never  wept  before  on  account  of  sin  ;  and  Christians  whose 
hearts  had  long  been  cold  and  insensible  were  warmed  into 
life  and  tenderness,  and  could  say  'Rivers  of  water  run 
down  my  eyes  because  men  keep  not  thy  law.'  The  gospel 
was  preached  with  the  Holy  Ghost  sent  down  from  Heaven, 
and  the  results  were  such,  though  on  a  comparatively  small 
scale,  as  was  witnessed  by  the  apostles.  Hearts  were 
'  opened  '  to  receive  the  truth — '  not  as  the  word  of  man, 


WILLIAM     C  .     WALTON.  251 

'I'lic  power  "I' prayer. 


but  as  it  is  indeed  the  word  of  Cod,  and  it  effectually 
wrought  in  them  that  believed,  turning  them  from  idols  to 
serve  the  living  and  true  God.'  And  the  change  has  been 
thus  far,  with  a  few  exceptions,  a  permanent  one. 

•2  It  was  characterized  by  an  unusual  spirit  of  prayer. 
Much  pains  had  been  taken  before  the  commencement  of 
the  meeting,  to  impress  upon  the  minds  of  Christians  the 
Utter  inefficiency  of  all  human  means,  and  at  the  same 
time  to  explain  the  connection  which  God  had  established 
between  human  instrumentality  rightly  employed,  and  the 
conversion  of  sinners.  And  during  the  progress  of  the 
meeting  they  were  often  reminded  of  the  'curse'  pronoun- 
ced upon  those  '  who  trust  in  man  and  whose  hearts 
depart  from  the  Lord.'  And  as  the  ancient  Parthians, 
when  contending  with  an  enemy,  surrounded  by  walls 
which  they  could  neither  scale  nor  demolish,  shot  their 
arrows  towards  Heaven,  so  that  in  their  descent  they  might 
take  the  enemy  unawares,  and  at  a  disadvantage  for  resist- 
ance; so  Christians  were  engaged  during  our  meeting. 
While  ministers  were  dispensing  the  truth,  many  were  send- 
ing up  their  prayers  to  Heaven  unseen  and  unheard  by  men, 
but  efficacious  in  bringing  down  a  divine  influence,  to 
which  all  the  saving  effects  of  the  meeting  are,  and  ought 
to  be,  ascribed.  The  occasion  was  preceded  by  a  day  of 
fasting  and  prayer ;  and  during  the  progress  of  the  meet- 
ing, two  days  were  set  apart  for  the  same  purposes.  Small 
circles  were  almost  continually  engaged  in  prayer  during 
the  intervals  of  public  worship  ;  and  two  or  three  whole 
nights  were  by  private  agreement  spent  in  the  same  way, 
by  some  of  the  brethren  and  sisters  apart.  When  the 
church  could  not  contain  the  people  who  assembled,  Christ- 
ians were  requested  to  make  room  for  others  by  retiring  to 
the  Lecture  room  for  prayer  ;  and  it  could  be  wished  that 
those  who,  standing  at  a  distance,  and  judging  from  reports, 
think  that  the  doctrine  of  the  Holy  Spirit's  influence  was 
not  sufficiently  felt  and  recognized,  had  been  present  on 
some  of  these  occasions,  when  by  '  continuing  instant  in 
prayer,  and  watching  thereunto  with  all  perseverance  and 
supplication,'  there  was  such  a  sense  of  the  Divine  pres- 
ence, that  every  mind  was  filled  with  solemnity  and  awe. 
The  distance  between  heaven  and  earth  seemed  to  be  almost 
annihilated,  and  the  things  of  the  spiritual  world  seemed 


2  52  MEMOIR     OF 


Hear)  marchings  and  confessions. 


to  be  rendered  almost  visible  and  tangible.  Prayers  were  a 
few  times  requested  for  individuals,  by  friends  who  felt 
deeply  for  their  salvation,  and  some  of  these  persons  were 
hopefully  Converted  ;  while  not  an  instance  is  known  to 
me,  of  any  had  effects  produced  on  the  minds  of  those  indi- 
viduals who  were  thus  alluded  to — 1  say  alluded  to,  for  they 
were  not  named;  and  this  was  done  only  in  the  prayer  meet- 
ings.      *       *       * 

3.  It  was  distinguished,  above  all  the  meetings  I  ever 
attended,  by  its  searching  effects  upon  the  experience  and 
the  hopes  of  professing  Christians.  Many  gave  up  their 
hopes,  and  appeared  among  the  anxious ;  some  acknowl- 
edging that  they  had  all  the  feelings  of  enmity  against  God, 
which  are  ordinarily  experienced  by  convicted  sinners. 
One  of  these  was  the  most  remarkable  instance  of  hard 
hearted,  intelligent,  and  obstinate  rebellion  I  have  ever  wit- 
nessed. Some  made  confession  of  sins  long  covered  up, 
and  almost  forgotten.  Some  men  of  business,  in  looking 
over  their  past  transactions,  although  they  could  see  noth- 
ing that  was  not  sanctioned  by  the  maxims  and  practices 
of  commercial  men,  yet  saw  some  things,  which  to  an 
enlightened  and  tender  conscience  created  uneasiness. 
These  things  were  rectified,  and  their  consciences  disbur- 
dened. Some — not  professors  of  religion — made  restitu- 
tion for  unjust  gain.  By  one  man  *•">;>  was  restored — 
another  went  into  the  country  some  distance,  to  settle  an 
affair  which  exceedingly  embarrassed  his  mind,  and  troub- 
led his  conscience.  Some  restored  small  sums  of  money, 
and  articles  which  they  had  clandestinely  taken.  Some 
under  conviction  were  kept  in  distress  several  days, 
unwilling  to  make  confession  of  sins  they  had  committed; 
but  as  soon  as  that  was  done,  they  obtained  peace  of  mind 
and  peace  with  God.  An  individual  who  had  taken  an 
album  from  a  store  without  leaving  an  equivalent,  was  con- 
strained by  mental  disquietude,  to  confess  the  sin  to  the 
person  from  whom  it  had  been  taken,  and  to  pay  for  it. 
The  act  was  so  extraordinary,  and  evinced  so  clearly  the 
powerful  operation  of  religious  principle,  that  it  was  made 
the  means  of  the  young  man's  conversion.  Two  other 
cases,  equally  striking,  1  forbear  to  record ;  but  they  will 
long  be  remembered  as  proof  that  this  work  was  of  God, 
and  not  of  man,  nor  of  Satan. 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  253 

Whole  funiilie."  roiiw-tlerl. 

4.  It  has  had  the  effect  of  elevating  the  standard  of 
Christian  experience  and  of  Christian  effort.  I  mean  that 
many  Christians  have  obtained  clearer  views  of  what  the, 
Bible  inculcates  in  regard  to  these  matters  than  they  ever 
had  before.  They  can  no  longer  be  satisfied  merely  to 
have  their  Dames  on  the  church  register,  to  attend  public 
worship,  to  partake  of  the  communion,  and  to  contribute  a 
little  to  the  support  of  religious  institutions  and  the  spread 
of  the  gospel.  They  are  now  convinced  that  all  this  may 
be  done  while  their  hearts  and  personal  services  are  withheld 
from  God;  and  that  it  is  all  consistent  with  living  to  them- 
selves and  for  this  world.  They  are  convinced  that  in 
order  to  have  a  scriptural  foundation  for  their  hopes,  they 
must  make  the  service  of  God  their  chief  and  daily  busi- 
ness. They  will  no  longer  be  ashamed  of  Christ,  nor 
afraid  to  speak,  on  suitable  occasions,  to  their  fellow  men 
in  reference  to  the  concerns  of  their  souls  :  and  they  will 
seek  for  opportunities  of  advancing  the  great  object  for 
which  they  live,  and  not  try  to  shun  the  cross,  and  to  turn 
away  their  eyes  from  beholding  the  temporal  and  spiritual 
wretchedness  of  their  fellow  men.       *       *       * 

5.  It  has  resulted  in  the  hopeful  conversion  of  some 
whole  families;  family  altars  have  been  erected,  the  friends 
of  temperance  multiplied,  many  young  men  have  been 
reclaimed  from  courses  of  folly  and  wickedness ;  many 
parents  have  had  their  hearts  gladdened  and  their  mouths 
filled  with  praise,  by  the  happy  change  witnessed  in  chil- 
dren for  whose  spiritual  birth  they  had  travailed  and  ago- 
nized. The  Female  Seminary  partook  largely  of  the  bles- 
sing, as  did  also  another  school  in  the  neighborhood,  in 
which  there  were  nearly  twenty  hopeful  conversions  among 
the  larger  pupils. 

(i.  A  considerable  number  of  young  men,  subjects  of 
the  work,  have  been  in  the  habit  of  meeting  every  evening 
after  closing  their  business,  generally  at  9  o'clock,  for  con- 
ference and  prayer. 

For  some  weeks,  special  meetings  were  held  for  the 
instruction  of  the  young  converts.  They  have  been  taught 
that  religion  is  something  more  than  going  forward  to  the 
inquirers'  seat ;  that  having  in  this,  or  some  other  way, 
expressed  their  determination  to  serve  God,  they  must  now 
serve  him,  and  carry  their  religious  principles  into  the 
02 


254  MEMOIR     OF 


Incidental  remarks. 


whole  business  of  life.  That  their  fidelity  and  constancy 
must  not  depend  upon  the  excitement  of  a  protracted  meet- 
ing ;  but  that  they  must  have  such  a  religion  as  can  be  sus- 
tained by  the  word  of  God  and  prayer — by  closet  devotion 
— by  the  ordinary  exercises  of  the  sanctuary,  and  by  those 
personal  efforts  to  do  good,  which  are  as  essential  to  spirit- 
ual prosperity  and  advancement  in  holiness,  as  exercise  is 
to  the  health  and  vigor  of  the  body  or  the  mind.     *     *     * 

The  salutary  effects  of  this  meeting  have,  as  before  inti- 
mated, extended  beyond  the  limits  of  our  church.  'They 
are  scattered,'  said  a  member  of  another  church,  '  all  over 
the  city.'  And  the  individual  who  made  this  remark  had 
an  opportunity  of  knowing;  for  she  was  a  tract  distributor, 
and  had  then  recently  attended  a  monthly  meeting  of  her 
associates,  at  which  it  was  reported  that  since  their  previ- 
ous meeting,  conversions  had  taken  place  in  every  ward, 
and  in  some,  as  many  as  twelve. 

I  have  now  only  to  remark  in  reference  to  these  things, 
that  if  others  can  produce  such  effects,  without  '  Christ 
and  the  Holy  Spirit  forming  any  part  of  their  system,'  WE 
cannot;  we  have  no  pretension  to  such  powers;  and  if  oth- 
ers think  we  have,  they  magnify  us  far  more  than  we  are 
willing  to  '  magnify  ourselves.'  I  presume  there  is  not  one 
whom  we  have  recognized  as  a  convert,  who  would  not  say, 
1  Christ  is  my  only  hope — my  salvation  is  of  the  Lord,  and 
to  his  name  alone  be  the  praise.'  I  do  not  feel  concerned 
to  vindicate  this  work  any  farther  than  a  faithful  statement 
of  facts  will  furnish  such  vindication.  That  it  was  attended 
with  imperfection,  none  will  deny.  Was  there  ever  a  revi- 
val conducted  by  human  beings  with  perfect  wisdom  and 
propriety?  Or  are  we  to  refrain  from  all  efforts  to  do  good, 
until  we  are  perfect  ?  Then  we  shall  do  none,  until  we  get 
to  Heaven  ;  and  acting  upon  that  principle,  it  may  be  ques- 
tionable whether  we  ever  get  there.  It  is  not  fair,  however, 
to  attribute  all  the  imperfection  to  neto  measures,  unless  it 
could  be  shown  that  there  was  none  in  the  old.  If  God 
blesses  both,  why  may  we  not  employ  both,  especially  as 
the  Bible  contains  no  specific  directions  on  the  subject? 
Our  principle  is  to  vary  measures  according  to  circumstan- 
ces, '  if  by  any  means  we  may  save  some.'  This  matter  is, 
we  think,  left  to  the  discretion  of  ministers,  each  one  being 
bound  to  adopt  that  course  which  he  thinks  will,  under  his 


WILLIAM     C  .     WALTON.  255 

Importance  of  union  among  mlniatsra. 

ministry,  be  most  efficient  for  the  salvation  of  souls.  This, 
in  our  opinion,  is  responsibility  enough  for  us  to  assume, 
without  interfering  with  others  who  have  the  same  respon- 
sibility and  who  ought,  therefore,  to  have  the  same  liberty 
of  judging  for  themselves  which  v/e  claim  for  ourselves.  If 
they  can  practically  show  us  '  a  more  excellent  way  '  than 
we  have  yet  discovered,  we  shall  thank  them;  but  at  all 
events,  we  will  not  contend  with  them  about  such  matters. 
If  ministers  would  have  confidence  in  each  other,  'love  as 
brethren,'  and  'strive  together  for  the  faith  of  the  Groepel,' 
and  not  strive  about  measures,  there  might  be  in  the  latter, 
a  diversity  somewhat  like  that  which  is  seen  in  all  the 
works  of  God  ;  a  diversity  which  continually  excites  fresh 
interest,  and  which  is  consistent  with  the  beauty  and  har- 
mony of  the  whole.  If  the  Head  of  the  church  confined 
his  blessing  to  the  use  of  old  measures,  we  should  feel  our- 
selves bound  to  employ  no  others;  and  if  they  were  abused 
by  some  eccentric  and  extravagant  men,  and  made  a  sub- 
ject of  ridicule  by  profane  men,  we  should  not  deem  that  a 
sufficient  reason  for  giving  them  up.  Any  thing  may  be  abused 
and  turned  into  ridicule — old  or  new  measures — the  gospel 
itself  has  been  abused  and  vilified  :  but  still  it  remains  the 
power  and  the  wisdom  of  God  unto  salvation.  We  believe 
that  while  wisdom  is  profitable  to  direct  in  all  our  efforts  to 
save  souls,  an  extreme  of  caution  is  itself  an  evil,  and  may 
prevent  great  good  :  and  that  while  we  ought  not  to  con- 
demn conscientious  fears  indulged  by  brethren  in  regard  to 
tire  tendency  of  things  to  which  they  have  not  been  accus- 
tomed, we  ought  also  to  fear  lest  the  blood  of  souls  be  found 
in  our  skirts,  if  we  are  pursuing  a  course  which  does  not, 
in  fact,  result  in  their  salvation.  Our  fears  ought,  it  seems 
to  us,  to  be  more  excited  by  the  actual  evils  of  that  state  of 
things  in  which  sinners  are  going  heedless,  and  as  by  com- 
mon consent,  to  destruction,  than  by  any  deviation  from  it, 
which  results  in  the  salvation  of  some.  May  grace,  mercy, 
and  peace  be  multiplied  to  all  the  ministers  and  to  all  the 
churches  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  may  the  whole 
earth  be  filled  with  his  glory.     Amen  and  amen  ! 

W.  C.  Walton." 

"  May  15. — I  have  just  returned  from  New  York,  where 
I  had  the  privilege  of  attending  the  anniversaries,  of  hearing 
some   preaching — much   interesting   conversation,  and  of 


256  MEMOIR    OF 


The  last  article  Irons  U\<  pen. 


preaching  the  Gospel  to  a  very  large  assembly  in  Chatham 
Street  Chapel,  and  also  in  brother  Norton's  church.  On 
my  arrival  Found  all  my  family  well,  and  a  very  interesting 

and   Boothing   letter    from    a    .Miss  C ,    who    was  led 

by  the  blessing  of  God  upon  a  sermon  of  mine  in  Rich- 
mond, to  the  knowledge  of  the  truth.  1  desire  now  to  do 
more  than  I  have  ever  done  for  the  conversion  of  sinners. 
May  God  help  me." 

"July  12.  —  Reading  a  review  of  the  memoirs  of  James 
Taylor,  has  made  me  feel  more  sensibly  my  great  deficiency 
as  it  respects  personal  holiness,  and  entire  consecration  to 
the  work  of  the  Lord.  1  feel  resolved  to  seek  alter  more 
intimate  communion  with  God,  and  higher  enjoyment  of  his 
love;  but  I  am  aware  that  more  self-denying  obedience  is 
necessary  in  order  to  these  attainments." 

In  the  month  of  October,  he  writes :  "  For  some  time 
past  I  have  been  preparing  an  article  to  appear  in  the  next 
number  of  the  Christian  Spectator,  on  the  Views  and  feel- 
ings which  have  characterized  successful  ministers.  It  has 
been  a  work  of  much  labor  and  research  ;  but  inv  hopes  of 
its  being  very  useful  are  strong." 

This  article  excited  much  interest.  It  was  the  last  effort 
of  his  pen,  and  well  deserves  that  distinction.  No  consci- 
entious minister  can  read  it  without  desiring  to  be  a  better, 
holier,  and  more  useful  man.  Its  aim,  as  .-fated  by  himself, 
is  to  present  "  an  analysis  of  the  views  and  feelings,  which 
have  bun  found  by  experience  t<>  be  connected  with  success  in 
preaching  the  gospel."  "I  have  had  much  pleasure  and 
some  profit  to  my  own  soul  in  writing  it,  and  have  a  strong 
hope  that  it  will  be  more  useful  than  any  of  my  publica- 
tions have  been." 

"  Oct.  28. — Spent  last  week  at  Waterbury  attending  a 
protracted  meeting;  preached  Tuesday  evening;  three 
times  Wednesday ;  twice  Thursday,  and  three  times  Fri- 
day. Church  awakened,  and  about  thirty  inquirers — some 
hoping.     I  had  much  assistance  in  preaching." 

"Nov.  1. — Yesterday  was  the  anniversary  of  our  arrival 
in  this   city.     How  time  flies,   and   how  many  important 


WILLIAM     C .     WALTON.  ii;>7 

The  lust  funeral  sermon. 


events  have  occurred  within  the  past  year!  Still  I  see  ao 
reason  to  think  I  did  wrong  in  leaving  Alexandria  for  this 
new  field  of  labor.  But  1  feel  dissatisfied,  and  1  hope  in 
some  degree  humbled,  to  think  that  I  have  done  so  little 
here."  *  *  *  "  In  general  I  have  had  so  many 
engagements  to  prevent  me  from  visiting  from  house  to 
hou.se,  that  I  have  done  less  of  that  labor  than  usual.  A 
part  of  the  time  1  was  preparing  my  sermon  for  the  press; 
then  revising  the  Treatise  on  Intercessory  Prayer  for  a  new 
edition  ami  also  preparing  the  materials  lor  the  volume 
which  1  had  promised  to  the  public.  More  recently  I 
have  been  occupied  with  a  long  article  for  the  December 
number  of  the  Christian  Spectator.  Three  weeks  1  was 
absent  during  the  summer  at  Albany  and  New  York,  help- 
ing brother  Kirk  ami  exchanging  with  brother  Parker. 
All  these  things  are  reasons  why  I  have  done  but  little 
among  my  o\\  u  people,  except  to  keep  things  under  way, 
and  to  forward  the  building  of  our  new  house.  This,  to 
our  surprise,  is  now  nearly  finished,  and  will  soon  enlarge 
our  sphere  of  duly  and  responsibility." 

"  Sabbath  evening,  Nor.  :$. — Was  able  to  preach  brother 
Smith's  funeral  discourse  this  morning,  although  in  extreme 
weakness.  Sometimes  during  the  morning  I  felt  as  if  it 
would  be  impossible ;  and  when  I  commenced,  my  voice 
was  so  tremulous  and  weak  that  I  could  hardly  be  hear/d. 
I  administered  the  communion  in  the  afternoon  with  much 
less  difficulty.  Mr.  H.  assisted  me,  and  made  some  very 
judicious  and  striking  remarks.  I  now  feel  feverish,  as  I 
have  done  for  a  number  of  evenings.  I  was  assisted  in 
my  public  duties ;  but  my  heart  is  far  from  being  in  that 
state,  after  which  1  hope  I  am  seeking.  Oh  for  intelligent 
submission,  humility,  love,  and  victory  over  all  selfish  feel- 
ings.    May  the  Lord  fill  me  with  his  Spirit." 

"  Nov.  0. — Have  been  worse  since  the  Sabbath,  and  now 
can  hardly  say  with  confidence  that  my  disease  is  subdued. 
Am  some  better  to-day,  and  have  come  to  my  study,  where 
I  have  just  had  one  of  the  most  profitable  seasons  of  medi- 
tation and  prayer  that  I  have  had  for  a  long  time.  My 
mind  was  particularly  affected  in  recounting  the  Lord's 
dealings  with  me  during  the  forty  years  which  I  have  now 
spent  in  the  wilderness.  My  birth-day  was  Monday  last. 
I  have  had  some   humbling  views  of  my  sinfulness   and  a 


258  MEMOIR    OF 


Letter  to  Ma  Sister. 

freedom  and  peace  in  casting  my  guilty  soul  upon  the  mer- 
cy of  God  through  Christ,  and  in  appealing  to  h\a  fatherly 
compassions.  I  think  1  am  strengthened  against  ray  beset- 
ting sins,  and  1  feel  strong  desires  to  he  filled  with  the 
Spirit  of  Christ,  and  to  lie  employed,  it*  he  will  condescend 
to  employ  me,  in  doing  much  for  the  advancement  of  his 
kingdom."  *  *  *  "Last  evening  being  '  sick,'  I 
'  sent  for  the  Elders  of  the  church,'  who  prayed  with  me, 
and  I  trust  the  Lord  is,  in  answer  to  prayer  and  for  his  own 
glory,  going  to  raise  me  up  again." 

"  Saturday  eve.  Nov.  9. — Yesterday  morning  while  read- 
ing the  experience  of  Win.  Cowper,  I  had  some  of  the  most 
heart  affecting  and  profitable  views  of  Christ  and  his  work, 
that  I  ever  had  in  my  life.  I  do  not  remember  ever  to 
have  had  any  so  satisfactory.  My  mind  was  led  to  dwell 
upon  the  train  of  thought  for  a  length  of  time.  Every 
part  of  his  character  appeared  perfectly  amiable,  but  1  was 
most  struck  with  his  condescension,  and  with  the  grandeur 
of  his  design  in  coming  from  Heaven  to  save  a  lost  world  !" 

To  his   Sifter. 

Hartford,  Nov.  20,   1833. 
"  My  dear  Sister, 

Your  letter  found  me  in  a  sick  bed.  I  am  still  confined 
to  my  room,  although  so  far  convalescent  as  to  be  able  to 
eat  tolerably  well,  and  to  walk   frequently  across  the  room. 

*  *  *  But  whatever  be  the  cause,  the  hand  of  the 
Lord  is  in  it,  and  I  feel  that  it  is  the  hand  of  a  wise  and 
good  Father,  who  will  not  carry  the  affliction  beyond  the 
necessary  point.  You  may  judge  how  low  I  have  been, 
from  the  fact  that  one  evening  the  effort  of  pulling  off  my 
clothes  and  getting  into  bed  nearly  produced  fainting.     *  * 

Nov.  21. — I  commenced  this  letter  intending  to  write  a 
few  lines  at  a  time,  without  the  least  mental  or  bodily  exer- 
tion which  might  be  injurious.  1  shall  just  set  down  my 
scattered  thoughts  as  they  occur,  without  any  regard  to 
order  or  connection.  This  morning  I  feel  decidedly  better. 
Had  a  tolerably  good  night.  Cough,  which  has  been  dis- 
tressing, is  much  lessened,  and  my  feelings  are  in  all  re- 
spects more  natural  and  comfortable.  At  one  time  there 
was  such  an  obstruction  in  my  windpipe,  that  I  felt  like 
suffocation.     My   throat    was    blistered,    and   it    is    much 


WILLIAM     C  .     WALTON.  2.r)0 

Progreu  <>t'  hli  disease. 

relieved.  I  now  sit  up  nearly  all  day  and  ea1  pretty  heart- 
ily. Our  people  are  remarkably  kind,  and  scud  me  every 
thing  I  want.  I  trust  this  affliction  will  be  greatly  sancti- 
fied to  mo.  1  feel  that  I  needed  it.  I  think  1  have  views 
of  the  world,  of  myself,  of  Christ  and  His  salvation,  which  I 
had  not  before,  and  which  will  prepare  me  for  preaching, 
if  I  should  be  allowed  that  privilege  again. 

About  the  commencement  of  my  sickness,  I  completed 
my  fortieth  year,  and  it  sometimes  occurred  to  me  that  per- 
haps the  Lord  did  not  design  to  continue  me  in  the  wilder- 
ness any  longer.  I  believe  I  never  felt  better  prepared  to 
die  ;  but  with  such  a  family  as  I  have,  I  felt  that  it  was  very 
desirable  that  I  should  continue  with  them,  if  it  might  be 
consistent  with  the  divine  will.  I  felt,  too,  a  desire  to  do 
something  more  for  the  cause  of  Christ.  I  felt  as  if  I  had 
done  so  little,  so  very  little,  and  that  so  mingled  with  sin  ! 
I  feared  the  sins  of  my  ministry  were  so  great,  that  the  Lord 
would  lay  me  aside  as  an  unworthy  instrument,  in  whom  He 
takes  no  pleasure.  But  I  felt  great  confidence  in  casting 
myself  upon  His  mercy  in  Jesus  Christ,  and  in  appealing  to 
his  Fatherly  com  passion. 

W.  C.  Walton." 

"Nov.  24. — This  is  now  the  third  Sabbath  that  I  have 
been  confined  by  sickness,  unable  to  preach  and  generally 
unable  to  leave  my  room.  My  disease,  after  progressing  for 
some  time,  assumed  a  nervous  character,  and  since  that 
time  I  have  suffered  much  more  than  before.  I  have  been 
reduced  to  such  a  state  of  weakness,  that  the  effort  to  get 
into  bed  almost  produced  fainting.  Often  I  have  to  stop 
after  each  single  effort  to  get  breath.  In  addition  to  this, 
I  have  had  at  night  a  cough  which  has  been  alarming  in  its 
character.  Sometimes  my  lungs  have  appeared,  for  many 
hours  at  a  time,  especially  in  the  evening  and  at  night,  in 
such  a  state  that  the  vital  air  could  not  come  into  contact 
with  them.  My  case  has  for  some  time  appeared  a  very 
critical  one,  and  of  course  it  has  led  me  to  think  much 
about  dying  and  the  preparation  for  it.  My  exercises  have 
been  I  believe  truly  profitable.  I  have  been  assisted  in 
remembering  my  evil  ways  and  my  doings  which  were  not 
good,  and  have  been  led  to  loathe  myself  for  my  iniquities 
and  my  abominations.  I  have  been  enabled  to  ascribe 
righteousness  to  the  Lord,  and  to  see  that  in  all  my  multi- 


260  MEMOIR    OF 


li;iji|py  <t:ilc  of  lii»  elm r<  ii. 


plied  trials  lie  his  bem  dealing  with  me  in  faithfulness  and 
mercy.  I  felt  much  freedom  in  easting  myself  upon  the 
mercy  of  God  in  Christ,  and  in  appealing  to  His  fatherly 

compassions.  Sometimes  I  have  labored  under  great  de- 
pression and  been  sorely  tempted.  But  the  Lord  is  enabling 
me  to  rise  above  all  these  things,  and  this  morning  1  had  a 
sweet  season  of  devotion  at  the  dawn  of  day." 

"Monday,  Die.  lb\ — Yesterday  was  the  sixth  Sabbath 
since  I  preached  and  administered  the  communion  ;  and  the 
first  public  act  I  was  able  to  perform  was  to  administer  bap- 
tism to  an  adopted  child  of  .Mr.    and  Mrs.   S .     It  was 

with  great  difficulty  1  spoke  at  all,  I  was  so  weak  and  agit- 
ated !     But  I  got  through  the  service  and  prayed." 

"  God  ha  sfor  some  wise  purpose  laid  me  aside,  and  is 
using  a  young  man,  not  yet  licensed  to  preach,  as  an  instru- 
ment of  a  glorious  work  among  my  people.  In  this  I  do 
rejoice,  yea,  and  will  rejoice.  Let  the  church  be  purified 
and  my  Saviour  honored,  and  sinners  converted,  and  it 
matters  but  little  who  is  the  instrument.  I  am  willing  that 
God  should  work  in  His  own  way  and  by  whomsoever  He 
pleases." 

"  The  meetings  are  increasingly  full  and  interesting,  and 
the  number  of  hopeful  converts  is  very  considerable.  The 
church  is  in  a  better  state  than  it  has  ever  been  since  I  have 
been  here.  May  the  Lord  take  it  into  his  own  hands, 
direct  every  thing,  and  glorify  Himself  through  Jesus  Christ. 
Amen." 

Among  the  last  books  which  he  read  were  the  Autobiog- 
raphy of  Dr.  Clark  and  Baxter  on  Conversion.  The  fol- 
lowing is  the  last  entry  in  his  diary: 

"I  have  also  written  several  skeletons  of  sermons,  and 
revised  parts  of  several  little  volumes  which  I  expect  shortly 
to  publish.  I  have  also  written  the  narrative  of  the  events 
of  my  earl}  life,  amounting  to  seventeen  pages." 

His  last,  like  his  first  letter,  was  to  his  early  and  venerated 
friend,  Dr.  Hill,  now  his  successor  at  Alexandria. 

Hartford,  Dec.  19,  1833. 

"  Reverend  and  dear  Brother, 

I  have  written  to  you  several  times  without  receiving  any 
answer  ;   and  I  am  sometimes   tempted   to  think   you  have 


AV  ILIUM     C .     WALTON.  201 

His  i:ist  letter. 

almost  ceased  to  care  for  me,  and  thai   I  may  as  well  not 

write  any  more.  But  perhaps  in  this  1  am  wrong.  At  all 
events,  1  will  relieve  my  feelings  by  writing  once  more,  and 
pethaps  this  letter  may  bring  an  answer. 

I  am  now  just  recovering  from  a  long  illness,  brought  on 
by  excessive  labor  at  a  protracted  meeting  in  one  of  the 
neighboring  towns.  At  first  it  was  not  alarming,  hut  ;it 
length  it  turned  to  a  nervous  fever,  and  prostrated  my 
Strength  almost  entirely.  Although  I  have  been  convales- 
cent for  three  or  four  weeks,  I  am  not  yet  able  to  preach, 
and  go  out  but  very  little.  Still  1  have  the  prospect  of 
returning  health,  and  my  strength  is  gradually  increas- 
ing. I  trust  the  affliction  has  been  greatly  blessed  both  to 
myself  and  to  my  people.  Never  before  have  I  had  such 
exercises  of  mind  as  during  my  illness  and  since  my  partial 
recovery.  I  felt  that  the  sting  of  death  was  taken  away; 
and  I  now  feel  a  confidence  in  God  and  a  heart  to  rejoice 
in  His  government  and  in  Him,  as  the  boundless  ocean  of 
blessedness.  I  feel  a  desire  to  spend  my  spared  life  to  His 
glory  ;  to  live  simply  and  entirely  to  Him  and  not  to  myself. 
May  I  never  lose  a  sense  of  my  unspeakable  obligations  ! 

Just  before  my  illness,  we  lost  one  of  our  deacons  on 
whom  our  church  depended  so  much  at  its  commencement, 
that  without  him  the  enterprize  would  not  have  been  com- 
menced. You  may  have  seen  his  death  noticed  in  connec- 
tion with  bis  munificent  legacies  to  the  great  and  small 
religious  societies.  This  event  produced  a  solemn  im- 
pression upon  the  minds  of  our  people,  and  that  impres- 
sion was  deepened  by  my  illness.  They  felt  that  the  Lord 
was  dealing  with  them,  and  that  it  behoved  them  to 
inquire  wherefore  He  conttnded  with  than]  One  after 
another  was  humbled  and  melted  down  in  repentance  for 
past  sin  ;  and  one  after  another,  by  taking  a  more  decided 
stand  and  resolving  to  do  their  whole  duty,  has  come  in  to 
the  light  and  liberty  of  the  gospel.  The  spirit  of  prayer 
appears  greatly  to  have  increased,  and  the  style  and  char- 
acter of  their  prayers  much  improved ;  tbey  ask  for  just 
what  they  want,  and  stop  when  they  are  done.  They  have 
also  become  more  faithful  in  conversing  with  the  impeni- 
tent. Our  men  of  business  make  it  a  rule  to  perform  this 
duty  in  relation  to  every  person  with  whom  they  have  inter- 
course, when  circumstances  will  admit.  The  consequence 
you  may  anticipate.     There  has  been  for  four  weeks  past 


262  MEMOIR     OF     WALTON. 

its  conclusion. 

what  we  may  now  with  confidence  call  a  revival.  It  is 
increasing — meetings  are  crowded — sometimes  there  have 
been  about  a  dozen  hopeful  conversions  at  one  meeting. 

*  *  *  One  of  the  most  effectual  means  of  bringing 
the  brethren  to  a  right  state  of  feeling,  was  the  appointment 
of  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer,  at  which  time  they  all  made 
confession  of  their  sins  one  to  another.  It  was  a  melting 
and  profitable  time.       *     *     * 

Verv  affectionately, 

W.  C.  Walton." 


CHAPTER     XV. 


The  closing  scene. 


The  heir  of  Heaven  !  henceforth  I  fear  not  death, 
In  Christ  I  live,  in  Clirisl  I  draw  the  breath 
Of  the  true  life.    Let  then  earth,  and  sea,  and  sky 
Make  war  against  me.    <>a  thy  heart  I  show 
Their  mighty  Master's  seal.    In  vain  they  try 
To  end  my  life  ;  that  can  but  end  its  woe. 
Is  that  a  death-bed  where  a  Christian  lies  1 
Yes, — but  not  Iiis  ; — 'tis  death  itself  there  dies ! 

Coleridge. 

Having  presented  to  my  readers  the  history  of  William 
C.  Walton,  as  a  living  man  and  a  minister  of  Christ,  it  now 
remains  that  I  introduce  them  into  the  dying  chamber,  that 
there  they  may  see  the  end  of  a  life  of  faith,  the  fruits  of 
holy  living,  the  sweet  prelibation  of  Heaven's  joys,  even 
before  the  soul  has  passed  tlie  valley  of  death  and  entered 
the  gates  of  eternal  life. 

In  speaking  of  the  triumphant  death  of  John  Jane- 
way,  Robert  Hall  says  :  "  I  am  aware  that  some  will 
object  to  the  strain  of  devout  ecstacy  which  characterizes 
the  sentiments  and  language  of  Mr.  Janeway  in  his  dying 
moments  ;  but  I  am  persuaded  they  will  meet  with  nothing, 
however  ecstatic  and  elevated,  but  what  corresponds  to  the 
dictates  of  Scripture  and  the  analogy  of  faith.  He  who 
recollects  that  the  Scripture  speaks  of  a  '  peace  which  pas- 
seth  understanding,'  of  a  '  joy  unspeakable  and  full  of  glory,' 


264  MEMOIR     OP 


John  JaneWfty.  Thomas  llalyburton. 

will  not  be  offended  at  the  lively  expressions  of  those  con- 
tained in  this  narrative.  He  will  be  more  disposed  to 
lament  the  low  state  of  his  own  religious  feeling,  than  to 
suspect  the  propriety  of  sentiments,  the  most  rational  and 
scriptural,  merely  because  they  rise  to  a  pitch  he  has  never 
reached.  The  sacred  oracles  afford  no  countenance  to  the 
supposition,  that  devotional  feelings  are  to  be  condemned 
as  visionary  and  enthusiastic,  merely  on  account  of  their 
intenseness  and  elevation ;  provided  they  arc  of  the  right 
kind,  and  spring  from  legitimate  sources,  they  never  teach 
us  to  suspect  they  can  be  carried  too  far." 

If  in  the  distant  view  of  death,  remarks  so  just  and  true 
could  fall  from  the  lips  of  a  good  man,  with  what  force  do 
kindred  sentiments  flow  from  the  lips  of  one  who  has  already 
commenced  the  struggle  with  the  'last  enemy,'  but  who 
feels  the  confidence  of  a  conqueror,  whose  victory  is  to  be 
achieved  '  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ ! ' 

"  I  know,"  said  the  pious  Halyburton  on  his  death-bed, 
"  that  a  great  deal  of  what  is  said  by  a  dying  man  will 
pass  for  canting  and  raving  ;  but  I  bless  God  He  hath  so 
preserved  the  little  judgment  I  had,  that  I  have  been  able 
to  reflect  with  composure  on  His  dealings  with  me.  I  am 
sober  and  composed]  if  ever  I  was  sober.  And  whether 
men  will  hear  or  forbear,  this  is  a  testimony.  Am  not  I  a 
man  wonderfully  upheld  of  God,  under  affliction  and  death  ? 
The  death  of  the  saints  is  made  a  derision  in  our  day. 
When  such  people  shall  come  to  my  pass,  they  will  not 
dare  to  laugh.  I  will  rejoice  in  the  Lord  and  joy  in  the 
God  of  my  salvation.  I  want  death  to  complete  my  happi- 
ness. Oh  blessed  be  God  that  I  ever  was  born  !"  And  in 
such  a  strain  of  gratitude  and  praise  did  he  breathe  out  his 
soul  to  God. 

But  not  to  him  and  such  as  him  alone,  have  angels  whis- 
pered the  music  of  Heaven  in  the  still  and  holy  twilight  of 
their  mortal  existence.  Our  beloved  brother,  whose  trials 
and  sorrows  were  many,  forgot  them  all  amid  the  sustaining 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  2f>5 

A  sudden  crisis  iii  iiis  disease. 


consolations  of  the  final  scene;  amid  those  brilliant  visions, 
which  in  his  passage  across  the  river  of  death,  continually 
greeted  and  gladdened  his  view,  till  earth  was  no  more! 

"On  Friday,  the  20th,"  says  Mrs.  Walton,  "my  dear 
husband  rose  early  and  walked  down  to  the  market.  It 
was  unusually  cold,  and  he  was  chilled  by  exposure  to  the 
keen  morning  air.  At  worship,  whilst  he  was  praying,  he 
felt  an  unusual  sensation  in  his  breast,  and  called  on  our 
son  William  to  continue  the  devotions :  he  however  ate  his 
breakfast,  rode  out,  and  thought  he  was  refreshed,  and  as 
well  as  he  had  ordinarily  been.  After  dinner  I  went  up  to 
my  room  ;  had  been  there  but  a  short  time  when  he  entered 
it  hastily,  saying,  as  he  came  to  the  fire-place,  '  my  dear,  get 
me  some  salt.'  I  was  alarmed,  ran  down  stairs,  and  hav- 
ing procured  it,  took  it  to  him.  We  sent  immediately 
for  his  attending  physician ;  in  the  mean  time  he  spit  up 
two  or  three  mouthfuls  of  blood.  In  a  little  time  we  had 
three  physicians.  Dr.  D.  having  arrived  first,  proceeded 
directly  to  take  some  blood  from  his  arm.  This  step  was 
approved  by  Drs.  B.  and  N.  who  came  in  shortly  after. 
They  then  removed  him  to  a  more  retired  room.  He  sat 
up  until  nearly  night,  when  he  was  put  to  bed,  from  which 
he  was  not  suffered  to  rise  for  several  weeks.  He  contin- 
ued to  raise  blood  occasionally  for  two  or  three  weeks. 
After  his  hemorrhage  ceased,  he  was  allowed  to  eat  rather 
more,  and  seemed  to  be  gaining  a  little  strength.  Feeling 
anxious  to  remove  to  a  room  which  looked  more  comforta- 
ble and  cheerful,  we  had  him  brought  down  to  the  second 
story.  This  was  the  only  time  he  was  out  of  his  room  from 
the  20th  Dec.  until  he  was  taken  to  the  rest  that  remains 
for  the  people  of  God.  He  suffered  a  great  deal  during  the 
first  of  this  confinement  from  those  nervous  affections  of 
which  he  so  often  complains  in  his  diary.  The  adver- 
sary was  not,  however,  allowed  to  take  away  his  confidence 
in  God,  or  his  trust  in  a  crucified  Redeemer.  His  conflicts 
were  frequent,  though  of  short  duration,  until  one  morning 
he  was  greatly  agitated  by  fear  of  some  impending  though 
uncertain  evil  ;  when  he  thought,  well,  be  it  so,  let  it  come, 
i"  will  trust  in  the  Lord,  and  from  that  time  he  seemed  to 
think  Satan  had  less  power  over  him,  and  he  had  few,  if 
any  more  such  conflicts.  From  the  first  of  his  hemorrhage, 
he  prepared,  as  though  he  were  sure  he  should  not  recover." 
23 


266  MEMOIR     OF 


The  first  sensations  of  a  Christian  oil  entering  Heaven. 


Not  long  after  this,  a  Christian  friend  entering  the  room, 

he  said   to  her,  "  M ,  you    remember    Hurlgate,  near 

New  York,  where  ships  have  been  so  often  injured.  Wellj 
I  have  felt  just  like  a  vessel  there  in  a  heavy  gale,  making 
no  headway,  but  trembling  in  all  her  timbers,  expecting 
every  moment  to  be  dashed  in  pieces,  but  unexpectedly  the 
scene  changes  and  she  gets  into  smooth  sailing." 

The  night  previous  to  his  hemorrhage,  he  bad  such  views 
of  the  character  of  God  as  he  never  bad  before.,  "He 
seemed,"  said  he,  "  to  be  preparing  me  for  this,  and  I  feel 
a  sweet  peace  in  leaving  myself  in  His  hands,  and  I  never 
have  been  able  to  look  at  death  and  the  grave  with  so  much 
composure.  The  grave-yard  looks  like  a  quiet  resting 
place  for  this  poor  body,  while  my  spirit  will  be  with  Jesus." 

He  gradually  declined  from  day  to  day,  occasionally 
walking  across  the  room,  until  Tuesday,  Feb.  1],  when  it 
was  determined  to  try  the  efficacy  of  bleeding.  This 
afforded  only  temporary  relief.  The  afternoon  of  that  day 
brought  increased  difficulty  of  breathing  and  general  weak- 
ness. At  night,  he  retired  earlier  than  usual,  laying  aside 
for  the  last  time  his  earthly  robes. 

Addressing  himself  to  the  member  of  his  family  above 
referred  to,  he  asked  her,  "  What  are  the  first  sensations 
of  a  Christian  on  reaching  Heaven  ?  "  "Delight  in  seeing 
Jesus,"  was  the  reply.  "  Yes,"  said  he,  "  this  is  it.  I  won- 
der why  we  fix  our  eyes  on  these  low  grounds."  His  diffi- 
culty of  breathing  having  for  a  time  subsided,  it  was  sug- 
gested that  perhaps  it  was  a  token  for  good.  "  I  hope  so  ;" 
he  replied,  "  the  Lord  tempers  His  rough  wind  in  the  day 
of  His  east  wind."  He  committed  to  memory  that  hymn 
which  much  refreshed  and  animated  him  : 

'When  languor  and  disease  Invade,' 

and  when  a  friend  rehearsed  to  him  the  lines : 

1  Sweet  to  lie  passive  in  His  hands 
And  know  no  will  but  thine,' 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  207 

Various  dying  expressions. 


he  s;ii<l :  "  Father,  if  this  cup  m;iy  not  pass  from  me,  except 
I  drink  it,  thy  will  be  done,"  and  his  countenance  became 
radiant  with  peace  and  joy,  as  he  discoursed  of  the  good- 
ness of  G'od.     In  the  deep  serenity  of  conscious  triumph, 

"  You  must    hive,"  said  he  to  M ,  "  some    appropriate 

passages  to  read  or  quote  to  me  when  I  begin  my  last  strug- 
gle."     "  I  hope    my  dear,"  said  Mrs.  W.,  "  you  will  have  a 

better  prompter  than  M ."     "Oh  yes,"   he  rejoined, 

"  the  Holy  Spirit.  Then  pray  for  the  Holy  Spirit."  Sat- 
urday night  was  passed  in  pain  and  restlessness,  but  in 
great  mental  enjoyment.  He  declared  that  he  "  never  had 
such  sensible  communion  with  Christ.  He  condescends 
to  come  down  into  my  room  and  speak  face  to  face,  even 
as  a  man  speaketh  with  his  friend."  He  repeated  with 
great  apparent  pleasure, 

1  But  speak,  my  Lord,  and  calm  my  fear, 
Am  1  not  sale  beneath  iliy  shade  7 
Thy  justice  will  not  strike  me  here 
Nor  Satan  dare  my  soul  invade.' 

To  his  wife  he  said,  as  if  anticipating  the  heavy  load  both 
of  grief  and  responsibility  which  her  Heavenly  Father  was 
about  to  impose  on  her,  "  My  love,  the  Lord  will  not  lay 
upon  us  more  than  He  will  enable  us  to  bear.  He  will 
temper  His  rough  wind."  "  One  reason,"  he  remarked  at 
another  time,  "  why  Christians  have  so  little  sensible  com- 
munion with  Christ  is,  they  do  not  stir  themselves  up  to 
take  hold  on  God." 

On  Sabbath  morning  after  a  distressing  night,  he  said, 
while  convulsed  with  spasms :  "  I  am  in  the  river,  but  the 
water  is  not  deep."  He  took  his  children  one  by  one,  laid 
his  hands  on  them,  and  blessed  them  with  a  father's  bles- 
sing!  He  pressed  the  infant  to  his  bosom  with  all  the 
ardor  of  parental  affection — in  such  circumstances,  too ! 
while  standing  in  Jordan.  Oh  the  sacredness  of  faith  in 
such  an  hour !  So  did  Jacob  '  by  faith,'  when  dying,  bless 
the  children  of  his  heart.     "  It  is  almost  over,"  he  contin- 


208  MEMOIR    OF 


increasing  and  triumphant  exultation. 


ued,  "  don't  weep  for  me.  I  am  going  to  Jesus.  Precious 
Saviour  !  Precious  Saviour  !  "  To  brother  O.  "  You  have 
just  returned  in  time  to  see  me  die.  Be  faithful.  You  do  not 
know  how  soon  you  will  have  to  follow  me.  Do  not  he 
afraid  to  die."  Shaking  hands  with  a  ministerial  brother, 
he  said,  "  I  am  almost  gone.  My  vital  powers  are  fast 
decaying.  I  am  going  to  see  Jesus.  What  a  thought ! 
Going  to  see  Jesus!  I  shall  praise  Him  for  what  He  has 
done  forme.     You  must  be  faithful." 

When  surrounding  friends  supposed  him  to  be  in  a  gen- 
tle sleep,  he  began  :  "  How  many  times  I  have  failed  in 
revivals  of  religion  !  Blessed  Jesus,  forgive  me  !  "  Again, 
as  if  re-invigorated  by  some  kind  and  cheering  manifesta- 
tion of  divine  love.  "  I  am  now  ready  to  be  offered  up,  and 
the  time  of  my  departure  is  at  hand.  I  have  fought  a  good 
fight.     I  have  finished  my  course." 

After  the  Bible  was  read,  "  I  do  love  it,"  said  he.  "  Oh 
Jesus  !  take  and  raise  me  above  these  afflictions.  Oh  Jesus, 
dear  Saviour  !  take  this  spirit  of  mine.  *  *  *  It  is 
sweet  to  think  that  Jesus  suffered,  died,  was  buried,  and 
rose  again."  *  *  *  "  Give  my  dearest  love  to  your 
cousin  J.  and  brother  J — n.  Tell  them  I  earnestly  desir- 
ed to  see  them,  that  I  love  them  most  dearly.  Again  I  can 
give  my  testimony  to  the  religion  of  Jesus.  Oh  what  pros- 
pects are  before  me !  What  scenes !  New  scenes,  new 
visions  are  before  me  !  "  He  then  desired  that  the  >~>~>~ th 
of  the  Village  Hymns  should  be  read  : 

'And  let  this  feeble  body  fail, 

And  let  it  faint  and  dio.' 

Seeming  to  be  sinking,  he  asked,  "is  this  dying?  it  is 
easy,  very  easy.  Sometimes  when  I  pray  that  1  may  have 
ease  from  my  sufferings,  I  think  I  hear  my  Saviour  say, 
•  This  is  the  xoay  I  take  to  draw  you  to  myself.'  I  shall 
have  his  image  stamped  upon  me.  He  loves  me.  Oh  what 
glory!  This  is  easy.  I  can't  say  but  it  is  pleasant"  And 
this  was  said  with  a  slight  smile  of  ineffable  sweetness, 


WILLIAM    C  .    WALTON.  200 

Bis  dying  views  of  the  ministry. 


which  beautifully  lighted  up  his  pale  and  solemn  counte- 
nance, as  if,  like  Stephen,  he  saw  the  glories  of  Heaven 
unveiled,  ere  the  spirit  went  to  how  before  the  eternal 
throne!  "  This,"  said  one  of  those  present,  "  is  what  we 
have  been  praying  for."  "  Precious  hrethren,"  he  replied, 
"  I  thank  you.  I  love  you.  Peace  !  My  peace  flows  like 
a  river.  Calm  !  heavenly  calm.  Oh  who  could  give  me 
such  sweet  peace,  but  Jesus,  my  Saviour?  Oil  that  there 
should  be  such  glory  in  reserve  for  mortals  !" 

When  asked  by  Dr.  Hawes  on  Sabbath  afternoon,  "  how 
he  felt?"  "This,"  he  answered,  "  has  been  on  the  whole 
the  happiest  day  of  my  life.  The  joy  I  have  felt  is  unspeak- 
able. My  peace  flows  like  a  river.  Dear  brother  Hawes, 
be  faithful,  be  faithful,  and  God  will  bless  you."  Being 
asked  how  the  ministry  appeared  to  him,  he  said  with  em- 
phasis, "  important,  all  important.  I  should  preach  the 
gospel  very  differently  were  I  spared.  I  have  clearer  views 
of  truth.  The  Saviour  appears  glorious,  most  glorious." 
And  when  he  bid  his  brother  farewell,  taking  both  his  hands 
he  said,  "  I  hope  to  meet  you  in  Heaven, — farewell,  dear 
brother,  be  faithful,  be  faithful  unto  death."  *  *  * 
"  Go  prav  for  me,"  said  he  to  another  clerical  brother,  "  that 
Jesus  will  manifest  His  Spirit  unto  me.  Thou  knowest,  dear 
Jesus,  what  it  is  to  die.  Dear  Jesus,  thou  art  a  present 
help  in  every  time  of  trouble.  Thou  knowest  how  much 
this  body  suffers.  Thou  that  hearest  prayer,  do  hear  me, 
receive  my  departing  spirit." 

About  7  o'clock  in  the  evening,  he  asked  for  Clarke  on  the 
Promises.  "  Do  read  me  something  to  help  me  over  this 
Jordan  of  death."  He  appeared  refreshed  by  the  passages 
read.  His  sufferings  being  now  intense,  he  prayed  earnestly, 
"  If  it  please  thee,  oh  precious  Redeemer,  come  quickly  !  Oh 
Jesus,  come  quickly.  I  have  glorified  Thee  on  the  earth  in 
some  measure.  I  have  finished  the  work  thou  gavest  me  to 
do.  Dear  Saviour,  do  come  quickly,  and  take  thy  unwor- 
thy servant  home.  But  I  would  not  dictate  to  Thee,  but 
23* 


270 


MEMOIR     OF 


Fear  of  Impatience  Son»s  of  praisi'. 

do  come  quickly,  oh  come.  What  a  dreadful  thing  sin  is  ! 
This  is  the  process  we  must  all  go  through."  Observing 
that  Mrs.  Walton  was  much  affected  by  his  Bufferings,  he 
said  to  her,  "  M y  dear,  you  cannot  help  inc.  None  but 
Jesus;  none  but  Jesus.  These  friends  will  do  all  they  can 
for  me.  You  had  better  retire."  When  asked  if  he  would 
take  some  medicine,  he  said,  "  No,  I  want  every  thing 
done  to  hasten  the  result."  When  recollecting  himself, 
and  that  he  might  be  too  impatient  to  be  gone,  he  appeared 
struck  with  horror  lest  he  should  violate  the  sixth  command- 
ment, and  began  to  pray  thus  :  "  Thou  alone  art  compe- 
tent to  decide  in  this  case.  Dear  Saviour,  preserve  me 
from  this  sin,"  and  then  with  another  of  those  radiant 
changes  of  countenance  that  reflected  the  joyful  emotions 
of  his  soul,  he  exclaimed  :  "  My  will  shall  be  thine.  Father, 
Thy  will  be  done."  From  that  moment  his  will  seemed 
swallowed  up  in  the  will  of  God. 

The  beautiful  commentary  on  the  passage,  '  He  shall  sit 
as  a  refiner's  fire,'  &,c,  conveying  the  idea  that  Jesus  takes 
His  seat  by  the  furnace,  and  will  not  suffer  it  to  get  too  hot, 
was  read  to  him.  "  Thai  is  a  happy  thought,"  he  remarked. 
"  I  have  gained  some  important  points  to-night  by  my  suf- 
ferings. Where  is  Eliza?  (his  daughter)  I  want  her  and 
her  sister  to  sing  'Come,  sound  His  praise  abroad,  and  Come, 
toe  that  lore  the  Lord.'"  At  about  eleven  o'clock  he  said, 
"  I  am  convinced  my  end  is  near.  Glory  !  Glory  !  Honor, 
praise,  and  thanksgiving  be  to  Him  that  sitteth  upon  the 
throne,  and  to  the  Lamb  forever  !  He  has  said,  '  My  grace 
shall  be  sufficient  for  thee,'  and  He  has  verified  it  to  me." 

Being  aaked  if  he  was  willing  to  suffer  yet  sharper  pains, 
that  the  soul  might  escape,  he  replied,  "I  am  willing  to 
suffer  all  my  Saviour  shall  see  necessary  to  lay  upon  me." 

'  How  firm  a  foundation,  ye  saints  of  the  Lord  ' 

was  then  e ung  to  him.  It  produced  a  glow  of  sacred  feel- 
ing in  his  heart.  He  was  enthusiastically  fond  of  sacred 
music,  and  was  accustomed  io  sing  at  family  worship,  but 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  271 

Mis  faith  in  God  concerning  liis  family. 

his  friends  did  not  dare,  in  this  last  sickness,  to  indulge  his 
wishes  except  to  a  limited  extent,  so  much  did  the  rush  of 
sacred  emotion,  thus  excited,  overpower  his  feeble  frame. 
When  his  daughter  sung,  'Rise  my  soul,  and  stretch  thy 
wings,'  a  flood  of  tears  hurst  from  him,  and  he  hegged  them 
to  desist,  observing  that  if  he  were  to  hear  that  music  in 
the  chapel,  it  would  take  away  his  life. 

To  the  visitors  who  surrounded  his  bed,  he  addressed 
these  words  :  "  It  is  a  solemn  thing  to  die.  While  you  have 
health  and  are  active,  settle  this  great  matter.  I  have  given 
myself  to  Christ,  and  have  no  perplexity  or  doubt."  He 
now  began  to  pray  fervently  for  his  Church ;  that  his  death 
might  be  sanctified  to  its  members,  and  prove  a  greater  bles- 
sing to  them  than  his  life  and  labors  could.  His  family  was 
mentioned  to  him,  for  a  wife  and  seven  children  were  about 
to  be  bereaved  of  their  natural  protector — for  whom  no 
earthly  substitute  can  be  found.  With  a  tone  and  manner 
indicative  of  unshaken  confidence,  he  said,  "That  matter  is 
settled.  God  has  pledged  Himself.  I  have  given  them  up 
to  the  Saviour  with  a  distinct  reliance  on  His  promise.  Oh 
what  cause  for  thankfulness,  that  in  my  last  moments,  in- 
stead of  leaving  me  to  darkness  and  gloom,  he  should  give 
me  such  peace.  Said  Hume  on  his  death-bed,  the  present 
is  here — the  past  is  gone,  and  all  beyond  is  clothed  in  im- 
penetrable darkness."  "  Is  it  so  with  you  ?  "  he  was  asked. 
"  Oh  no.  'Tis  glory,  and  beauty,  and  richness,  and  bliss 
beyond  the  power  of  utterance.  My  imagination  was  never 
more  vivid.  I  am  constitutionally  timid  in  the  extreme, 
and  I  have  often  thought  that  in  order  to  die  in  peace,  I 
should  require  an  uncommon  degree  of  grace.  I  now  feel 
entirely  free  from  fear  or  alarm,  and  have  not  the  slightest 
degree  of  trepidation.  I  feel  that  I  have  the  victory  over 
death.  Its  sting  is  gone,  and  it  is  through  my  precious 
Redeemer.  It  now  seems  to  me,  if  I  could  live  again  my 
life,  I  would  serve  Him  with  a  cheerfulness,  which  never 
characterized  my  former  services." 


272  MEMOIR     OF 


The  shout  of  victory.  A  message  to  his  brethren. 

About  2  o'clock  he  asked,  "  what  keeps  me  here?  Oh 
Saviour  !  receive  my  departing  spirit.  Do  ask  the  Lord 
to  take  his  poor  suffering  servant  home  now."  At  3  o'clock 
he  was  thought  to  be  dying.  He  lay  lor  sonic  time  in  a 
state  of  apparent  insensibility,  but  presently  reviving,  said, 
"  I  thought  I  was  just  entering  the  gates  of  the  celestial 
city,  but  the  Lord  has  put  me  back  again  !" 

To  a  Christian  brother  he  said  :  "  You  know  the  peculiar 
trials  and  difficulties  I  have  had  since  I  came  here,  and 
more  recently  my  extreme  state  of  suffering.  Still  I  do 
not  regret  coming  to  this  place.  I  regret  that  I  have  not 
been  able  to  labor  more  with  the  church."  He  then  prayed 
fervently  :  "  Come  Heaven,  and  fdl  my  large  desires." 
"  Satan,"  said  he,  "  could  not  give  me  such  peace.  Oh 
no  !  such  views  of  God,  such  increasing  views  of  his  glory, 
until  every  earthly  object  is  eclipsed,  and  myself  appear 
"  like  a  mote  floating  in  the  sunbeam."  My  fears  are 
gone.  I  am  not  afraid.  He  is  my  strength,  and  has 
become  my  salvation.  Victory!  A  glorious  victory! 
Oh  Saviour !  Fill  my  soul  with  thy  love !  And  now  I 
bring  my  dear  family,  and  my  dear  Church.  Take  care  of 
them  !  I  come  as  a  sinner  saved  by  the  blood  of  Christ — 
saved  by  grace." 

When  asked  if  he  had  any  thing  to  say  to  those  brethren 
who  had  been  laboring  with  him  in  the  cause  of  revi- 
vals, he  replied  :  "  Oh  I  want  to  have  them  less  censori- 
ous. I  believe  the  cause  in*  which  we  are  engaged  is  the 
cause  of  God,  and  will  prevail,  but  I  fear  there  is  a  dispo- 
sition in  some  young  men  to  indulge  in  hard  feelings 
towards  those  who  do  not  look  at  things  in  the  same  light; 
to  speak  of  existing  evils  in  the  spirit  of  evil.  There  are 
some  of  our  brethren  who  are  too  reckless  of  the  feelings 
and  impressions  which  are  made  upon  the  minds  of  some 
by  our  peculiar  manner  of  preaching."  Whether  living  or 
dying,  our  dear  friend,  it  was  known  to  all  who  knew  him, 


WILLIAM     V.  .     WALTON.  273 

Wlint  it  is  to  die. 

ever  cherished  and  exemplified  a  spirit  of  lamb-like  meek- 
ness even  to  those  who  might  entertain  different  views  of 
doctrines  and  measures. 

"  The  Bible,"  he  observed,  "  has  been  a  great  source  of 
comfort  to  me  in  my  affliction,  especially  the  Psalms." 

Shortly  after,  a  bright  smile  diffused  itself  over  his  coun- 
tenance, indicative  of  the  heavenly  tranquility  that  reigned 
within  ;  his  eye,  yet  undiinmed  in  its  lustre,  sparkling  with 
joy,  and  his  whole  manner  bespeaking  a  consciousness  of 
holy  triumph  over  the  King  of  Terrors;  "  Brother  A,"  said 
he,  "  after  all,  it  is  a  pleasant  thing  to  die. 

'  Sweet  on  his  faithfulness  to  rest, 
And  trust  his  firm  decrees.'  " 

In  the  midst  of  his  groans — the  struggles  of  expiring 
nature — he  remarked  :  "  lam  as  happy  as  I  can  well  be.  My 
soul  is  in  perfect  peace."  "  Angels  will  hover  round  your 
bed,"  observed  a  friend,  "  and  take  your  spirit  home." 
"  'Tis  sweet,"  he  replied,  "  but  far  sweeter  to  think  that 
Jesus  will  Jje  there  to  receive  me."  After  some  severe 
struggles,  that  shook  his  frail  tabernacle  almost  to  dissolu- 
tion, respiration  became  easier,  and  he  said  :  "  Truly  after 
the  raging  of  the  storm,  there  has  come  a  calm,  as  when  the 
Saviour  rebuked  the  winds  and  the  sea,  and  there  was  a 
great  calm.  This  is  in  direct  answer  to  prayer.  I  can  now 
rejoice  in  all  parts  of  the  Divine  character.  Nor  height, 
nor  depth,  nor  any  other  creature  can  separate  me  from  the 
love  of  God.  It  is  a  far  greater  thing  to  die  than  I  had 
supposed."  And  in  the  greatness  and  in  the  joy  of  that 
thought  he  burst  forth  in  unison  with  a  song  of  praise  from 
the  lips  of  Christians  around  that  happy  bed, 

"  The  voice  of  free  grace  cries,  escape  to  the  mountain." 

While  they  were  singing  the  chorus, 

"  We'll  praise  him  again  when  we  pass  over  Jordan," 


274  MEMOIR     OF 

Prayer  ibr  the  Divine  glory. 


"  Yes,"  he  exclaimed,  in  the  raptures  of  unmingled  tri- 
umph, "  ['11  praise  him  in  it,  and  while  passing  through  it." 

So  perfect  was  the  work  of  the  Holy  Ghost  on  that  heart 
which  had  experienced  its  full  share  of  trials  and  sorrows 
in  this  vale  ol   tears. 

He  requested  that  the  599th  of  the  Village  Hymns  might 
he  read  : 

"  Vo  angels  who  stand  round  the  throne, 

Anil  view  my  Inimanin Ts  face." 

That  hymn,  he  said,  re-echoed  the  sentiments  of  his 
soul.  "  The  Church  has  heen  praying  diligently,  Lord, 
with  thy  servant,  and  how  gently  the  Lord's  hand  is  upon 
me."  He  then  prayed  that  Jesus  would  give  to  him  and  to 
all  around  such  manifestations  of  his  glory  as  they  had 
never  seen,  when  he  came  to  take  his  departing  spirit 
home. 

At  7  o'clock  on  Tuesday  morning,  he  was  supposed  to 
be  dying.  With  another  seraphic  smile,  he  exclaimed  :  "  I 
see  him !  I  see  him  !  Oh  glorious  Saviour !  Oh  death, 
where  is  thy  sting  !  Oh  grave,  where  is  thy  victory  !  Both 
are  gone."  Then  sinking  into  a  kind  of  sleep,  and  again 
reviving,  lie  opened  his  eyes,  and  asked.  "  Is  it  possible? 
Am  I  here  yet  1  Let  me  not  be  too  anxious.  The  Lord 
is  with  me.  Well,  I  am  in  his  hands.  Let  him  do  with 
me  as  seemeth  Him  good. 

"  Sweet  to  lie  passive  in  bis  bands, 
And  know  no  will  but  his!" 

"  You  see  what  He  can  do.  He  sits  as  a  refiner's  fire,  to 
purify  the  faith  of  his  people."  Those  only  who  have  had 
personal  experience  can  fully  appreciate  the  grief  and  anxi- 
ety of  that  heart,  which  in  such  circumstances,  is  to  become 
desolate  in  its  widowhood ;  to  bear  the  double  cares  and 
responsibilities,  which,  while  the  husband  yet  lived,  were 
divided  by  him — the  affectionate  father  of  seven   children. 


WILLIAM     C.     WALTON.  275 

\-l>-  tliat  liis  last  xermon  might  bo  read  to  him. 

On  those  little  ones  lie  looked  with  a  lather's  fondness,  and 
addressing  his  wife  :  "  You  see,  my  dear,  what  the  Lord 
can  do.  lie  can  bring  his  children  through.  Take  cour- 
age. I  feel  it  is  good  to  be  in  his  hands.  I  will  wait 
patiently  for  the  Lord.  How  little  true  holiness  was  there 
in  me!  I  have  learned  to  kiss  the  rod."  As  he  felt  the 
approach  of  another  bodily  agony,  he  begged  them  to  min- 
ister  spiritual  strength,  that  he  might  endure  it.  A  friend 
spread  before  him  a  cluster  of  Divine  promises.  He  grasp- 
ed them  with  eagerness,  and  was  immediately  elevated 
above  his  distress.  The  thought  was  suggested  of  the 
"  exceeding  and  eternal  weight  of  glory  "  in  reserve  for  the 
faithful.     It  seemed  to  kindle  a  glow  of  joy  in  his  bosom. 

He  asked  that  one  of  his  sermons  might  be  read  to  him. 
It  was  the  last  he  ever  preached.  It  was  a  funeral  sermon, 
delivered  on  the  occasion  of  the  death  of  one  of  his  par- 
ishioners, Mr.  Norm  and  Smith,  a  pious  and  munificent 
member  of  the  Free  Church  in  Hartford.  The  text  was, 
•  For  me  to  live  is  Christ,  and  to  die  is  gain.'  As  it  was 
read  to  him,  he  commented  upon  it  with  lively  interest. 
What  a  scene!  There  was  the  dying  Pastor  in  the  midst 
of  an  affectionate  people,  who  crowded  the  chamber  where 
he  lay.  He  had  not  long  before  preached  the  blessed  truths 
of  God  over  the  remains  of  a  devoted  Christian,  and  those 
same  truths  he  would  now  have  preached  to  himself  and  his 
people,  while  he  was  actually  dying  in  their  presence,  as  if 
to  show  in  a  most  striking  manner,  that  he  drew  salvation 
from  the  same  fountain  for  himself  and  his  people.  When 
his  visitors  became  numerous,  he  would  ask  them  to  go 
below  and  pray.  He  manifested  great  sensitiveness  lest  the 
medicine  he  took  should  affect  his  head,  and  seemed  to 
dread  the  least  obscuration  of  that  clear  and  full  mental 
light  which  he  had  hitherto  enjoyed.  He  abhorred  opiates 
for  a  dying  man,  and  considered  them  flagrantly  sinful,  for 
the  simple  reason  that  a  clear  view  of  truth  is  infinitely 
more  important   than   any  temporary   alleviation  of  pain; 


27G  MEMOIR     OF 


His  last  prayer  answered.  He  dies. 

especially  when  purchased  at  the  expense  of  intoxication  or 
stupefaction  of  the  brain.     To  go  into  the  presence  of  God 
in  such  a  condition  !      What  impious  presumption  ! 
A  stanza  of  a  hymn  he  loved  to  sing  was  repeated  : 

"  The  waves  of  woe 

Can  ne'er  o'crflow 

The  rock  of  thy  salvation." 

"No!"  said  he,  with  another  indescribable  expression 
of  countenance,  "  No,  and  I  am  on  it."  Various  promi- 
ses were  reiterated  to  him.  "  They  are  precious,"  he 
observed,  "  but  what  good  would  they  do  me,  if  I  were  not 
a  Christian  ?  None.  No ;  they  are  all  made  to  obedient 
faith.  The  Bible  is  a  book  of  realities."  This  idea  was 
prominent  in  his  mind  throughout  this  sickness — that  the 
Bible  is  a  book  of  realities.  All  its  truths  seemed  emi- 
nently real. 

His  voice  now  became  quite  hoarse  and  thick.  The 
physician  entered  and  felt  his  pulse.  "How  long?"  he 
asked.  "  I  think  it  will  soon  be  over,"  was  the  reply. 
"  That  is  good  news ;  good  news,"  he  rejoined.  Soon 
after,  he  was  heard  to  utter  this  prayer :  "  Dear  Saviour, 
do  come  and  consummate  the  desire  of  thy  servant,  and 
arrant  that  my  last  struggle  may  be  an  easy  one,  and  take 
me  to  thyself  for  thine  own  name's  sake."  That  prayer 
was  heard  in  Heaven  and  immediately  answered,  for  as  he 
littered  these  words,  he  folded  his  hands  on  his  breast,  and 
expired  ! 

Thus  closed  the  mortal  career  of  a  humble  and  faithful 
minister  of  Christ,  on  the  18th  of  February,  1834,  aged 
41  years.  On  the  21st,  his  remains  were  conveyed  in  sol- 
emn procession  to  the  Free  Church,  then  recently  finished, 
where,  to  a  crowded  assembly,  a  funeral  discourse  was 
preached  by  Rev.  Mr.  Boyle,  from  Acts  xiii.  36 :  'For 
David,  after  he  held  served  his  own  generation  by  the  will 
of  God,  fell  asleep.' 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  277 

His  burial.  His  monument. 

Tliencc  the  body  was  taken  to  the  distant  burial  ground, 
where  not  far  from  the  grave  of  Cornelius,  and  of  others — 
the  pious  dead — it  was  entrust!';!  in  the  earth,  to  "  sleep  the 
years  away,"  till  the  Son  of  man  shall  come  to  claim  its 
redemption  and  raise  it  in  glory.  '  Blessed  are  the  dead 
who  die  in  the  Lord,  yea,  saith  the  Spirit,  that  they  may 
rest  from  their  Labors,  and  their  works  do  follow  them.' 

A  monument  of  plain  while  marble  was  erected  by  the 
Church;  on  one  side  of  which,  is  the  inscription  of  his 
name,  age,  &,c.  with  the  passage,  When  Christ,  who   is 

OUR    LIFE,    SHALL     APPEAR,    THEN    SHALL    YE     ALSO    APPEAR 

with  him   in  glorv.     On  the  other  : 

WALTON    WAS    A    DEVOTED    SERVANT    OF    GOD, 

AND    PREACHER    OF    THE    GOSPEL. 

THE    HISTORY    OF    HIS     MINISTRY    WAS    A    HISTORY 

OF    SOULS    SAVED    AND    GOD    GLORIFIED. 

THE    TESTIMONIALS    OF    HIS    WORTH, 

MOURNFUL,    BUT    MOVING,    ARE    THE    WIDOW'S    ANGUISH, 

THE    GRIEF    OF    CHILDREN*    AND    THE    LOVE    OF    ALL. 

VIRGINIA    GAVE    HIM     BIRTH, 

COLUMBIA    A    HOME, 

NEW  ENGLAND    A    GRAVE, 

HEAVEN    AN    EVERLASTING    REST. 


The  following  lines  were  written  on  the  occasion  of  his 
death,  by  Mrs.  Sigourney,  who  proved  herself  a  kind  neio-h- 
bor,   and  a  sympathizing  friend  to  the  family  in   affliction. 

ON  THE  DEATH  OF  THE  REV.   W[LLIAM   C.  WALTON. 
So  from  the  field  of  labor  thou  art  gone 
To  thy  reward  ;  like  o\\z  who  pullcth  off 
His  outer  garments  at  the  noontide  hour, 


*  He  left  two  daughters  and  five  sons,  William,  Edward  Payson,  Henry  Martyn, 
Jeremiah  Evarts,  and  Robert  Hall,  a  catalogue  which  shows  whom  he  loved,  and 
whom  he  would  have  his  children  imitate. 

24 


278  MEMOIK     OF 


Elegy  by  Mrs.  Sigoumey. 


To  take  a  quiet  sleep.     Thy  zeal  hath  run 
Its  course  unresting — and  thy  quickened  love 
Where'er  thy  Master  pointed,  joyed  to  go. 
Amid  thy  faithful  toil,  1  lis  summons  came, 
Warning  thee  home,  ami  thou  didst  loose  thy  heart 
From  thy  fond  Bock,  ami  from  affection's  bonds, 
And  from  thy  blessed  childn  n'.s  warm  embrace, 
With  smiles  and  songs  of  praise. 

Death  smote  thee  sore, 
And  plunged  his  keen  shaft  in  the  quivering  nerve, 
Making  the  breath  that  stirred  life's  broken  valve, 
A  torturing  gasp;  but  with  thy  martyrdom 
Were  smiles  and  songs  ofpraist  . 

And  thou  didst  rise 
Above  the  pealing  of  these  Sabbath  bells, 
Up  to  that  glorious  and  unspotted  Church, 
Whose  worship  is  eternal. 

Would  that  all, 
Who  love  our  Lord,  might  with  thy  welcome,  look 
On  the  last  foe  ;  not  as  a  spoiler  sent 
To  wreck  their  treasures  and  to  blast  their  joys, 
But  as  a  friend  who  wraps  the  weary  clay 
With  earth,  its  mother — and  doth  raise  the  soul 
To  that  blest  consummation,  which  its  prayers 
Unceasingly  besought; — its  brightest  hopes 
Eut  faintly  shadowed  forth. 

So,  though  we  hear 
Thy  voice  on  earth  no  more — the  holy  hymn, 
With  which  thou  down  to  Jordan's  bank  didst  pass, 
To  take  thy  last  cold  baptism — still  shall  waft, 
As  from  some  cloud,  its  echoed  sweetness  back 
To  teach  us  of  the  melody  of  Heaven ! 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  279 


Letters  of  condolence.  From  Rev.  J.  Parker. 

A  mono-  various  letters  received  by  the  bereaved  widow 
on  the  occasion  of  the  demise  of  her  beloved  husband,  we 
extract  from  two : 

From  Rev.  Joel  Parker. 

"  Dear  Friend, 

I  have  long  waited  and  hesitated  on  the  subject  of 
addressing  a  letter  to  you.  I  feel  myself  so  incompetent 
to  administer  consolation  to  one  so  deeply  afflicted  as  your- 
self, that  my  resolution  fails  when  I  think  of  it,  and  I  com- 
mended you  to  God  and  deferred  speaking,  till  he  who  knows 
how  to  bind  up  the  broken  heart  has  allayed  the  first  par- 
oxysms of  distressing  bereavment.  I  trust  you  have  found 
support  in  trusting  in  that  kind  Father,  who  caused  your  dear 
husband  to  triumph  in  the  hour  of  dissolution.  No  death 
has  occurred  within  my  knowledge  since  that  of  brother 
Bissell,  which  has  so  deeply  wounded  my  heart  as  that  of 
your  beloved  husband.  Oh  he  was  so  sweet  and  heavenly, 
so  tender  and  so  meek,  so  like  the  Saviour  whom  he  served, 
that  I  cannot  think  of  him  now,  even  with  all  my  coldness 
and  want  of  emotion,  without  weeping.  Yet  my  acquaint- 
ance with  him  personally  was  very  brief.  I  ask  myself,  then, 
how  must  his  wife — the  companion  of  his  youth  and  the  moth- 
er of  his  children,  feel  this  stroke  ?  I  cannot  conceive  of  all 
the  endearing  recollections  that  must  spring  up  and  come 
thronging  along  back  and  knocking  at  the  heart  of  one 
thus  situated — but  I  know  God  can  make  his  grace  suffi- 
cient for  his  children  in  any  circumstances,  and  I  pray  that 
you  may  be  fully  sustained  under  your  affliction. 
Your  friend  and  brother, 

Joel  Parker." 

From  Rev.  Daniel  Baker. 

Frankfort,  Ky.,  Aug.  14,  1835. 
"  My  dear  Madam, 

*  *  *  I  ought  to  have  written  to  you  in  the 
hour  of  your  deep  affliction.  It  is  true,  I  was  at  that  time 
particularly  occupied  as  an  Evangelist,  and  could  not  very 
well  have  written  such  a  letter,  as  the  case  demanded ;  but 
I  will  not  justify  myself.  I  ought  to  have  written  to  the 
widowed  companion  of  my  early  friend,  my  long  loved  and 


280  MEMOIR     OF 


From  Rev.  Daniel  Baker. 


much  beloved  friend.  His  name  is  still  pleasant  to  my 
ear.  His  memory  is  blest,  and  long  will  it  be  ;is  ointment 
poured  forth.  I  loved  him  as  a  brother.  At  Hampden 
Sydney  College  wo  first  became  acquainted  with  each  other. 
We  were  class  mates,  room  mates,  confidential  companions, 
bosom  friends.  We  loved  the  same  Sa\  lour,  and  our  views, 
our  aims  were  one,  to  go  forth  in  due  time,  and  preach 
Christ  to  a  dying  world.  Verily  we  took  sweet  counsel 
together,  and  were  wont  to  go  to  the  house  of  God  in 
company.  All  the  associations  of  those  by-gone  days,  are 
still  fresh  to  my  mind,  and  are  yet,  like  "  the  music  of 
Caryl,  pleasant  and  mournful  to  the  soul."  When,  in  the 
Providence  of  God,  we  subsequently  were  separated  from 
each  other,  an  epistolary  correspondence  was  maintained 
for  many  a  long  year,  indeed,  I  may  say,  even  to  the  period 
of  his  death,  for  he  wrote  a  letter  to  me  only  a  few  weeks 
before  his  last  sickness,  and  I  think  my  reply  must  have 
reached  him  but  a  ^c-xv  days  before  his  departure.  Your 
husband,  my  dear  sister,  was  truly  a  most  excellent  *  tan. 
He  possessed  great  sweetness  and  simplicity  of  character  ; 
was  emphatically  without  guile  ;  and  1  never  knew  one,  I 
think,  whose  piety  was  more  ardent,  and  whose  zeal  was 
more  quenchless  and  untiring.  His  talents  and  his  time — 
his  influence,  and  all  thai  he  called  his  own.  he  mosl  sacred- 
ly and  conscientiously  devoted  to  the  service  of  his  Master, 
and  the  good  of  souls.  Oh  how  brighl  is  the  crown  which 
he  now  wears!  Oh  how  many  will,  in  the  resurrection 
morn,  rise  up  and  call  him  blessed  !  Dear  Friend  of  my 
youth  !  you  now  see  the  Saviour  whom  you  loved  on  earth, 
and  in  whose  cause  you  were  so  unwearied!  Oh  my  much 
beloved  Walton,  shall  I  meet  you  in  glory  .'  Yes,  the  tide 
of  time  is  rolling  me  on,  and  the  day  is  not  far  distant, 
when,  I  trust,  we  shall  in  Heaven  revive  a  friendship,  form- 
ed on  earth,  to  be  perpetuated  through  all  eternity  !  Most 
devoutly  do  I  wish  that  all  who  minister  at  the  altar — all 
who  preach  the  Gospel,  had  the  spirit  of  Walton — had  his 
stamp  of  character — how  much  more  useful  would  they  be. 
And  here  I  will  mention  a  circumstance  which  1  had  almost 
forgotten.  In  the  very  last  letter,  I  think  which  I  ever 
wrote  to  him,  I  urged  him  to  write  a  tract  on  the  subject  of 
ministerial  responsibility;  a  premium  of  $50  had  been 
offered  for  the  best  tract  that  should  be  written  upon  the 


WILLIAM     C.     WALTON.  281 

From  Rev.  Daniel  Baker. 


subject,  and  I  knew  no  one  that  would  be  more  likely  to  do 
justice  to  the  theme  than  himself.  But  alas  !  his  days 
were  already  numbered,  and  he  was  soon  to  leave  earth  for 
Heaven,  and  exchange  the  Church  militant,  for  the  Church 
triumphant ! 

Your's  sincerely, 

Daniel  Baker." 


24* 


CHAPTER    XVI 


Til    varieties  Ol  thp  human  mind. 


It  can  scarcely  be  necessary,  after  the  full  development 
in  the  preceding  pages,  to  dwell  at  much  length  on  the 
character  of  him,  with  whose  thoughts,  views,  labors,  and 
latter  end  the  reader  has  now  become  acquainted.  But  a 
due  respect  to  the  memory  of  a  beloved  brother,  and  a  faith- 
ful minister,  demands,  in  the  conclusion  of  our  memoir,  a 
separate  tribute,  the  impartiality  of  which,  the  writer 
would  venture  to  hope,  will  be  equal  to  its  sincerity. 

In  contemplating  the  constitution  of  the  human  mind, 
we  are  struck  with  the  Divine  wisdom  manifested  in  the 
distribution  of  its  various  departments.  If  all  men  were 
imaginative,  we  should  exist  in  a  kind  of  unreal  world, 
where  theories  would  take  the  place  of  facts,  dreams  that  of 
realities,  and  intellectual  vagaries  that  of  common  sense. 
If  all  were  philosophers,  the  common  affairs  of  life  would 
be  neglected.  If  all  were  cool  mathematical  reasoners, 
the  progress  of  these  affairs  would  be  slow,  as  they  depend 
chiefly  on  probabilities.  If  all  were  contemplative,  who 
would  be  active  ?  If  the  sanguine  were  not  corrected 
by  the  phlegmatic,  how  would  the  happy  medium,  so  much 
praised,  be  secured  ?     If  in  the  search  after  truth,  the  same 


MEMOIR     OF      WALTON.  283 

Distinguishing  characteristics. 


proposition  should  be  seen  alike  by  every  mind,  there  would 
be  an  end  of  all  discussion,  and  of  course  no  new  light 
would  be  struck  out.  Taking  men  in  the  mass,  there  is 
such  a  wise  and  wonderful  distribution  of  mental  character, 
as  at  once  preserves  the  balance  of  society,  promotes  its 
order,  and  advances  its  happiness.  In  practical  life,  as  in 
the  intellectual  world,  the  same  principle  of  distribution  is 
developed.  And  in  the  great  work  of  regenerating  the 
world,  though  the  same  sublime  and  omnipotent  Spirit 
sways  his  high  and  mysterious  influence,  what  a  diversity 
of  gifts  are  employed  ! 

In  one  character  is  exhibited  an  irresistible  and  inextin- 
guishable ardor ;  in  another,  a  serene,  steady,  and  most 
impressive  amiableness ;  in  a  third,  the  deep  imprint  of 
never  failing  good  sense;  in  a  fourth,  unconquerable  perse- 
verance; in  a  fifth,  the  habitual  love  of  systematic  effort  in 
study  or  in  the  pastoral  field.  In  all  these  I  have  not  spo- 
ken of  genius  or  brilliant  talent,  a  thing  which  the  world  is 
apt  to  admire ;  often  useful,  but  often  destructive  to  him 
who  possesses,  and  him  who  encounters  it.  It  may  be  set 
down  as  a  great  fact  in  the  history  of  redemption,  that  God 
has  more  glorified  himself  in  making  use  of  good  men, 
than  of  great  men  to  execute  his  high  purposes.*  Great 
men,  especially  if  unsanctified,  have  been  the  greatest  ene- 
mies of  their  race. 

But  when  powerful  natural  genius  has  been  trained  and 
tempered  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  as  in  the  case  of  Paul,  then  it 
stands  ready  to  conceive  and  execute  great  things  for  God. 
The  patient  labor  of  the  gospel  vineyard  is,  however,  to  be 
accomplished  by  thousands  of  hands,  whose   chief  distinc- 


*The  Rev.  Mr.  Jerrara,  in  delineating  the  character  of  that  distinguished  physician 
and  Christian,  Dr.  John  Mason  Good,  remarks  chat  his  life  and  death  teach  the  insig- 
nificance of  the  highest  intellectual  endowments  and  a  most  •  ttei  ive  erudition, 
when  compared  with  Christian  character  and  an  experimental  knowledge  of  our 
Lord  and  Saviour,  Jesus  Chris! ;  that  the  greatest  attainment  of  man  is  a  conformity 
to  the  Divine  image,  and  his  highest  destiny  is  to  be  partaker  of  the  inheritance  of  the 
saints  in  light. 


284  MEMOIR     OF 


Who  are  the  mart  useAil  ministers  ? 


tion  shall  be  their  holy  industry,  stimulated  and  sustained 
by  the  cheering  voice  of  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church. 
On  the  subject  of  useful  preaching,  the  London  Evangeli- 
cal Magazine  has  the  following  just  remarks,  by  a  corres- 
pondent : 

"As  a  layman,  I  have  sometimes  reflected  on  the  unde- 
niable fact,  that  among  the  most  eminently  useful  min- 
isters— those  whose  labors  have  more  especially  been 
rendered  effectual  to  the  great  purpose  of  conversion — there 
have  been  many  who  were  not  distinguished  by  high  attain- 
ments in  systematic  theology,  and  whose  discourses  were 
far  removed  from  the  general  standard  of  pulpit  excellence; 
but  having  entered  the  ministry  under  circumstances  which 
precluded  a  very  extensive  range  of  theological  reading, 
and  seeing  before  them  '  fields  already  white  for  the  har- 
vest,' with  few  laborers  ready  for  the  work,  they  have  com- 
menced their  arduous  duties  under  a  deep  impression  of 
'  the  powers  of  the  world  to  come ; '  of  the  short  period  of 
labor  before  them  ;  of  the  multitudes  perishing  for  lack  of 
knowledge  ;  and  accompanied  by  a  lively  recollection  of 
their  own  feelings  and  desires  when  hearing  the  word. 
Hence  there  has  been  a  solemnity,  an  ardor,  a  simplicity 
and  directness  of  address,  a  glowing  affection  in  exhibiting 
the  Almighty  and  compassionate  Saviour,  and  a  pungency 
of  application,  which,  under  the  Divine  benediction,  has 
aroused,  and  interested,  and  affected,  and  saved  their 
hearers." 

"  Far  be  it  from  the  writer  to  depreciate  the  advantages 
of  an  enlarged  and  well  grounded  acquaintance  with  The- 
ology. Many  instructive  examples,  among  the  living  as 
well  as  among  thus  ,  who,  though  dead,  yet  speak,  might 
be  adduced  of  the  bappy  concentration  of  high  and  accu- 
rate attainments  in  this  Divine  science,  to  the  important 
object  of  pulpit  instruction.  These  truly  great  men  have 
still  remembered  that  the  excellency  of  the  power  was  in 
God,  and  not  in  them ;  consequently  their  addresses  were 


WILLIAM    C .    WALTON.  285 

What  kiml  of  ministers  we  want  in  tbe  United  Btates. 

characterized  by  ;i  beautiful  simplicity  of  plan  and  of  dic- 
tion, and  a  frequent  reference  to  their  entire  dependence  on 
the  grace  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  while  bringing  out  of  their 
abundant  treasuries  '  things  new  and  old.'  It  may,  howev- 
er, be  worthy  of  inquiry,  whether  preachers  of  ordinary 
education  and  ability,  might  not  derive  some  useful  lessons 
by  reflecting  on  the  efficacy  of  that  simple,  direct,  pointed, 
and  serious  mode  of  address,  (not  to  the  neglect  of  dili- 
gent preparation  for  the  pulpit)  which  some,  even  with  very 
inferior  advantages  in  Theology,  have  been  enabled  to 
attain." 

Were  it  proper  here  to  enter  into  such  a  disquisition,  it 
might  be  shown  at  large,  that  the  circumstances  of  our 
own  country  eminently  demand  a  practical  ministry,  for 
we  are  a  practical  nation.  Good  natural  abilities,  a  sound 
physical  constitution,  plain  good  sense,  a  thorough  knowl- 
edge of  the  Bible,  and  a  deep  and  devoted  piety  are  the 
main  qualifications.  They  are  fundamental  and  permanent. 
They  are  not,  like  German  Philosophy  and  Theology,  to  be 
doomed  to  a  series  of  interminable  permutations,  but  they 
will  form  the  staple  of  the  human  agency,  which  is  to  do  its 
part  in  the  conversion  of  the  world.  If  I  mistake  not, 
these  are  among  the  qualifications  which  have  given  such 
strength  to  the  character,  and  such  high  esteem  to  the 
names  of  our  foreign  missionaries,  who  now  stand  first  in 
that  exalted  sphere  of  spiritual  action. 

To  select  an  individual  case  of  usefulness,  it  is  said  of 
John  Frederick  Oberlin,  that  in  preaching  "  he  studied  a 
colloquial  plainness,  interspersing  his  discourses  with  fig- 
ures and  allusions,  which  might  sometimes  have  been 
deemed  below  the  dignity  of  the  pulpit,  had  they  been 
addressed  to  a  polite  audience;  he  would  frequently  intro- 
duce biographical  anecdotes  of  persons  distinguished  for 
their  piety,  and  all  the  operations  of  nature  furnished  him 
with  illustrations  of  spiritual  things.  But  the  Bible  itself 
was  the  grand  source,  from  which  he  drew  the  matter  of 


286  MEMOIR     OF 


Mental  i  ba  acter  of  Walton. 


his  instructions.  It  formed  the  study  of  his  life,  and  he 
was  in  the  habit  of  citing  very  largely  from  the  Scriptures, 
as  best  adapted  to  feed  ti  •  flock."*  The  learned  Salmasius, 
when  dying,  said,  "Oh!  I  have  lost  a  world  of  time : 
time,  the  most  precious  thing  in  the  world;  whereof  had  I 
but  one  year  more,  it  should  be  spent  in  David's  Psalms 
and  Paul's  Epistles." 

In  any  analysis  of  the  mind  and  habits  of  Walton,  we 
should  find  similar  traits  Although  imagination  was  not  the 
predominant   faculty  of  his   mind — I  mean   that  species  of 

r  in  at  ion,  which  rises  to  the  elevated  region  of  poetry — 
in  the  art  of  illustration  he  was  peculiarly  felicitous.  Nor 
id  i his  power  seem  to  spring  up  from  his  mind  so  much  a 
thing  of  natural  growth,  as  to  be  engrafted  on  it,  and  assid- 
uously cultivated  under  an  intense  desire  to  make  the  truth 
plain  to  the  most  obtuse  and  unlettered  hearer,  and  rivet  an 
impression  on  the  heart  of  the  thoughtless  sinner.  He 
was  far  from  indulging  in  irregular  and  extravagant  bursts 
of  feeling;   his  soul  was  too  heavily  laden  with  the  habitual 

e  of  the  incomprehensible  value  of  eternal  things, 
to  allow  of  this.  But  he  would  patiently  reason  the  matter 
with  the  sinner;  listen  to  his  cavils;  reply  to  his  objec- 
tions; and  with  tender  and  tearful  earnestness  press  upon 
his  conscience  the  claims  of  God.  He  ever  spoke  in  pub- 
lic and  in  private  under  a  weighty  conviction  of  the  truth. 
The  year  1824  was  an  era  in  Mr.  Walton's  life.  It 
has  been  seen  that  a  change  then  took  place  in  his  views, 
surpassed  in  importance  only  by  that  of  his  original  con- 
version. The  Spirit  of  revivals  wrought  it.  A  flood  of 
light  was  poured  into  his  mind.  A  new  impulse  was  im- 
parted to  his  affections,  his  prayers  and  his  labors,  and  even 
to  his  understanding.  Turin  was  in  a  peculiar  manner 
the  object  of  his  ardent  pursuit.  Not  that  he  '  worshipped' 
it,  as  has  been  extravagantly  said  of  some  keen  and  enthu- 
siastic minds.     He  worshipped  only  the  God  of  truth.    But 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  287 

Change  in  his  view*. 

he  knew  that  Divine  truth  is  the  basis  of  every  Christian 
effort — that  it  is  adapted  to  the  active  powers  of  man — that 
it  is  the  mirror  of  the  attributes  of  God,  the  interpretation 
of  the  Divine  will,  the  joy  of  the  heavenly  hosts,  and  the 
terror  of  apostate  spirits  in  hell ;  that  it  is  the  only  true 
source  of  consolation  to  the  Christian,  living  and  dying, 
and  the  only  means  of  the  salvation  of  sinners;  finally, 
that  this  treasure  so  inestimable  and  incomparable,  is  en- 
trusted to  the  ministers  of  God,  and  to  God  they  must  ren- 
der an  account  of  their  stewardship.  From  the  time  that 
he  saw  the  truth  in  its  new  positions,  its  unwonted  rela- 
tions, its  sublime  consequences,  especially  as  manifested  in 
revivals  of  religion,  he  made  it  a  constant  aim,  so  far  as 
human  agency  could  go,  to  multiply  its  victories.  There 
could  not  have  been  a  greater  change  in  kind,  in  the  views 
of  Peter,  after  the  vision  at  Joppa;  of  Apollos,  after  his 
interview  with  Aquila;  or  of  Luther,  after  he  had  studied 
his  Bible.  In  all  these  instances,  the  new  views  received 
led  to  new  and  vigorous  action.  In  the  case  of  my  friend, 
hundreds  of  souls  will  bless  God  for  the  vital  change  in  his 
views.  They  gave  a  color  to  all  his  subsequent  life.  They 
were  the  subject  of  gratitude  to  his  latest  breath. 

They  will  form  a  theme  of  loud  exultation  through  all 
his  heavenly  career.  Nor  shall  his  labors  cease  there,  if 
there  be  truth  and  reality  in  the  words  of  Baxter.  "  There 
are  good  works  in  Heaven,  and  far  more  and  better  than 
on  earth.  There  will  be  more  life  and  power  for  action  ; 
more  love  to  God  and  one  another  to  excite  to  action ; 
more  likeness  to  God  and  Christ  in  doing  good,  as  well  as 
being  good ;  more  union  with  the  beneficent  Jesus,  to 
make  us  also  beneficent ;  and  more  communion,  by  each 
contributing  to  the  welfare  of  the  whole,  and  sharing  in 
their  common  returns  to  God." 

"  Perhaps,"  *  says  one  who  attended  his   ministry  in 

*  A  portion  of  this  sketch  was  published  by  the  Author  in  the  New  York  Observer. 


288  MEMOIR    OF 


The  secrets  of  his  success. 


Alexandria,  "  he  never  preached  with  more  unction  than  in 
Alexandria.  He  seemed  frequently,  when  preaching,  to 
grasp  his  whole  BUbject,  and  present  it  so  clearly  and  im- 
pressively, that  on  one  occasion,  it  appeared  to  me  almost 
like  a  stream  of  light.  The  subject  I  have  forgotten,  but 
the  impression   remains." 

Among  the  secrets  of  his  success  in  this  field  of  labor,  if 
secrets  they  should  be  called,  are  the  following: 

I.  A  settled  determination  to  leave  no  lawful  means 
untried  for  promoting  the  salvation  of  sinners.  How  much 
precious  time  is  wasted  by  ministers,  for  the  want  of  resolu- 
tion to  move  straight  forward  in  the  line  of  duty,  using  such 
means  as  arc  adapted  to  produce  the  end  at  which  they 
aim.  A  little  show  of  opposition  makes  them  afraid.  The 
judicious  and  prayerful  manner  in  which  Mr.  Walton  adapt- 
ed all  his  plans  for  "  catching  men,"  won  for  his  efforts  a 
success,  which  might  perhaps  have  been  denied  to  a  less 
skillful  workman.  He  saw  at  the  commencement  of  his 
labors  that  a  complete  revolution  was  to  be  effected  in 
opinion,  in  prejudice*  in  feeling,  in  the  mode  of  Christian 
action.  But  it  was  done.  "  I  found  the  houses  in  Rome 
of  wood.  I  left  them  of  brick."  With  what  pleasure  has 
the  writer  heard  a  venerable  older  in  that  church  speak  of 
the  prejudices  he  had  given  up  against  certain  modes  of 
doing  good  ;  prejudices  interwoven  with  his  habits  of  thought 
for  years,  but  iin worthy  to  be  cherished,  when  a  "better 
way"  could  be  expounded  to  him,  and  surrendered  with 
gratitude  and  joy  when  the  cause  demanded  it. 

II.  Our  departed  friend  studied  definitcness  in  his  ser- 
mons. His  peculiar  care  in  this  respect  probably  arose 
from  the  opposite  deficiency  which  marked  the  former  part 
of  his  ministry.  Having  discharged  his  arrows  in  other 
fields  so  much  at  random,  he  was  now  studious  to  take 
deliberate  aim.  Perhaps  he  thought  of  Paul,  who  in  his 
long  but  weighty  sermon  to  the  Romans,  presses  three 
great  points — the  sinfulness  and    misery    of  men,  the 


WILLIAM     C.     WA1TOX.  289 

( laming  othen  to  work. 

mercy  of  god,  and  the  way  of  that  mercy.  He  would 
pay  a  visit  to  a  family,  and  perhaps  from  a  conversation 
with  an  individual,  gather  up  materials  which  would  sug- 
gest precisely  the  kind  of  sermon  it  was  his  duty  to  prepare. 
One  case,  he  often  found,  would  answer  for  many.  The 
excuse  of  one  for  impenitence  was  the  excuse  of  many. 

III.  He  set  every  one  to  work.  "  My  friends,"  he  would 
say,  "  we  must  all  do  something.  What  are  we  worth  to 
the  world,  if  we  henefit  nobody  ?  Let  every  one  ask  him- 
self, how  can  1  be  useful  to-day?  "  Then,  turning  to  one 
of  the  active  elders,  "Will  you  hold  a  prayer  meeting  to- 
night in  street?  It  may  serve  to  rouse  those  insen- 
sible beings  in  that  quarter,  whom  I  have  not  seen  at  church 
since  I  came  here."  To  a  young  convert,  he  would  say, 
"  What  will  you  do  for  your  Master  ?  How  many  careless 
sinners  can  you  persuade  to  church  to-morrow  night?" 
The  intimation  would  be  joyfully  obeyed,  and  the  results 

soon  seen.     "  Sister  D ,  here  is  a  bundle  of  tracts,  the 

title  of  which  is  '  the  Bible  and  Sinner.'  It  is  short,  and 
well  adapted  to  its  object.  Will  you  and  two  or  three 
friends  distribute  them  as  soon  as  convenient  ?  "  He  would 
thus  avail  himself  of  the  judgment  and  ability  of  his  elders, 
of  the  zeal  of  the  young  convert,  of  the  devotedness  and 
moral  courage  of  the  female  members  of  the  church,  of 
something  in  all.  He  would  even  make  the  infidel  scoffer 
tributary  to  his  great  ends.  His  spirit  and  labors  in  vary- 
ing the  week  were  kindred  to  those  of  Cotton  Mather,  when 
on  the  Sabbath  he  asked,  "  What  shall  I  do  as  a  pastor  for 
the  good  of  the  flock  under  my  care  ?  " 

Monday  morning :  "  What  good  shall  I  do  for  my  own 
family?" 

Tuesday  morning :  "  What  good  shall  I  do  for  my  rela- 
tions abroad  ?  or  to  my  enemies  ?  How  shall  I  overcome 
evil  with  good  ?  " 

Wednesday  morning:  "  What  shall  I  do  for  the  churches 
oe; 


290  MEMOIR    OF 


How  Christiana  should  pray. 


of  the  Lord,  and  the  more  general  interests  of  religion  in 
the  world  !  " 

Thursday  morning:  "  What  good  may  I  do  in  the  sev- 
eral societies  to  which  I  belong?  " 

Friday  morning:  "What  special  subjects  of  affliction 
and  objects  of  compassion  may  I  take  under  my  particular 
care?   and  what  shall  1  do  lor  them?" 

Saturday  morning :  "What  more  have  I  to  do  for  the 
interest  of  God  in  my  own  heart  and  life  I  " 

IV.  As  working  without  praying  would  produce  only 
spurious  results,  he  prayed  much  himself,  strenuously  urged 
secret  devotion  on  Christians,  caused  them  to  pray  apart, 
simultaneously,  and  assisted  them  to  pray  to  advantage  in 
social  meetings.  Instead  of  those  long  petitions,  whose 
destitution  of  a  devotional  spirit  is  sometimes  in  direct  pro- 
portion to  their  wearisome  prolongation,  he  insisted  on  short 
prayers.  Then  they  must,  like  preaching,  he  definite. 
They  must  embrace  some  absorbing  subject.  If  the  mind 
be  not  fixed  on  any  thing  in  particular,  how  can  it  be  inter- 
ested ?  and  if  not  interested,  how  can  it  ask  any  thing 
in' earnest?  and  if  not  in  earnest,  how  can  it  be  effec- 
tive— how  pray  suitably  to  the  value  of  the  blessing  to  be 
sought  ?  A  feeble  and  random  prayer  deserves  a  feeble  and 
random  answer.  He  would  have  man}  prayers  in  quick 
succession,  because,  1.  Many  minds,  hearts  and  lips 
would  be  brought  into  action.  2.  Responsibility  would 
rest  upon  a  greater  number.  3.  The  practice  of  praying 
in  the  session-room  strengthened  the  brethren  for  the  work 
of  leading  elsewhere,  in  destitute  neighborhoods,  when  all 
the  services  might  devolve  on  them.  4.  Variety  is  essen- 
tial to  sustaining  an  interest  in  the  minds  of  beirgs  consti- 
tuted like  us.  5.  Scripture  prayers  arc  generally  short, 
very  special  occasions  excepted,  as  the  dedication  of  the 
temple,  &c.  The  history  of  my  friend's  ministry  was  a 
luminous  commentary  on  the  efficacy  of  prayer. 

V.  He  was  much  attached  to  that  mode  of  doing  good, 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  291 

Courti.'ouniH.'sis  of  manner  and  correctness  of  language. 


which  concentrates  the  prayers  and  labors  of  ministerial 
brethren  in  protracted  meetings.  They  have  been  held  in 
every  part  of  the  country  by  ministers  of  various  shades  of 
doctrinal  belief,  to  the  salvation  of  thousands. 

Brother  Walton  never  thought  there  was  much  good 
sense  in  condemning  a  measure  simply  because  it  was  new, 
provided  it  was  scriptural,  appropriate,  or  well  suited  to  the 
great  end  of  converting  sinners.  But  he  never,  to  my  knowl- 
edge, denounced  others  for  not  thinking  and  acting  with 
him.  He  was  plain,  pointed,  and  earnest,  but  not  rough  in 
his  public  ministrations.  He  was  a. gentleman  every  where, 
and  did  not  lay  the  gentleman  aside  when  dealing  with 
immortal  souls.  He  seemed  as  truly,  as  habitually  to  obey 
the  precept,  'Be  courteous,'  as  the  precept,  'Be  faithful.' 
His  spirit  was  as  gentle  as  it  was  firm. 

VI.  His  dependence  upon  the  Divine  Spirit  was  of  the 
most  simple,  fervent  and  unwavering  kind.  He  waited  for 
His  coming,  but,  like  the  anxious  Psalmist,  '  watching  for 
the  morning.'  It  was  a  dependence  full  of  hope,  of  expecta- 
tion, of  activity.  He  was  of  the  opinion  that  we  should  be 
careful  of  our  phraseology.  He  did  not  so  well  like  the 
petition,  "  Folloio  these  exercises  with  thy  blessing,"  as 
"Accompany  these  exercises  with  thy  blessing."  The  bles- 
sing might  follow  at  a  distance,  if  not  urgently  sought. 

His  views  on  various  subjects  connected  with  revivals 
may  best  be  learned  by  presenting  the  following  letter, 
which  was  written  in  reply  to  one  received  from  a  Commit- 
tee of  the  Society  of  Inquiry  in  the  Theological  Seminary 
at  Princeton,  and  published  in  the  New  York  Evangelist. 

Alexandria,  Jan  10,  1S32. 
"  Dear  Brother, 

Your  letter  has  been  received  and  read  with  much  inter- 
est. I  fear  it  will  not  be  in  my  power  to  give  you  a  par- 
ticular answer  to  all  your  inquiries.  It  would  require  a 
volume  to  do  this ;  but  I  will  do  the  best  I  can,  and  per- 


292  MEMOIR    OF 


Letter  to  the  Princeton  Society  of  Inquiry. 


haps  may  be   able  to  suggest  sonic   things  which   may  be 
useful. 

I  agree  with  you  in  thinking  the  appointment  of  a 
committee  on  the  general  subject  of  revivals,  of  great  im- 
portance to  your  Seminary.  Few  things  could  be  more 
important  to  those  who  are  preparing  to  preach  the  gospel, 
than  a  knowledge  of  the  leading  facts  connected  with  the 
history  of  Revivals.  As  your  success  in  the  ministry  will 
depend  upon  the  accompanying  influences  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  it  certainly  behooves  you  to  inquire,  with  the  greatest 
care,  how  he  operates,  and  hoir  liis  presence  and  blessing 
may  be  secured.  For  the  want  of  information  on  this 
subject,  several  years  of  my  ministry  were  comparatively 
useless  ;  and  I  am  now  convinced  that  it  would  have  been 
well  worth  my  while  to  have  travelled  across  this  continent, 
to  have  spent  some  time  with  a  judicious  pastor  or  evange- 
list, laboring  in  a  Revival,  in  order  to  see  how  he  conducted 
the  business ;  how  he  preached,  and  conversed  ;  what 
truths,  and  what  modes  of  presenting  them,  were  most 
blessed  to  the  conviction  and  conversion  of  sinners.  These 
are  things  which  cannot  so  well  be  learnt  in  theory,  or  by 
the  hearing  of  the  ear  ; — our  eyes  must  sec  them.  And 
thanks  to  the  Great  Head  of  the  church,  revivals  are  so 
numerous  at  the  present  day  that  almost  all  students  of 
divinity  and  young  ministers  who  desire  it,  may  witness 
these  wonderful  works  of  God.  The  first  revival  in  which 
I  was  concerned  was  that  which  occurred  in  Baltimore 
about  ten  years  ago.  I  was  then  entirely  inexperienced, 
and  felt  that  I  had  every  thing  to  learn.  I  knew  not  how 
to  preach  to  the  consciences  of  sinners — I  was  equally 
unskillful  in  conversing  with  them.  1  did  not  understand 
the  responsibility  of  churches  in  relation  to  revivals,  and 
my  views  upon  some  other  important  points  were  far  from 
being  clear.  Thus  unfurnished  for  the  work,  it  would 
have  been  strange  if  I  had  not  fallen  into  some  practical 
errors.  These  errors,  however,  as  usual,  were  much  ex- 
aggerated. But  that  is  now  a  small  matter.  One  thing 
I  know,  that  I  acted  conscientiously  and  earnestly  sought 
divine  direction,  and  that  I  have  been  endeavoring  ever 
since,  to  profit  by  the  experience  which  I  then  acquired. 
The  means  chiefly  blessed  in  that  revival  were  the  follow- 
ing:  Visiting  from  house  to  house,  holding  small  neigh- 
borhood meetings,  a  weekly  inquiry  meeting,  preaching  on 


WILLIAM     C .    WALTON.  203 

Remarks  on  the  first  re\  i\  :cl  h<:  witnessid. 

one  part  of  the  Sabbath,  upon  Bubjecta  having  a  direct 
bearing  lipon  revivals,  addressed  mainly  to  the  church  :  and 

on  the  other  part  of  the  day, preaching  awakening  discour- 
ses to  the  impenitent,  explaining  the  way  of  salvation, 
enforcing  the,  obligation  to  an  immediate  compliance  with 
the  terms  of  the  gospel,  taking  away  their  excuses,  &c. 

The  fruits  of  that  revival  have  not  appeared  ;is  great  as  tiny 
would  have  been  had  circumstances  been  favorable.  About 
one  hundred  were  brought  into  the  church — but  my  health 
failed;  the  church  being  deeply  in  debt,  was  not  able  to 
support  me,  and  I  fell  it  to  be  my  duty  to  leave  them.  Be- 
in  ir  without  a  pastor  for  a  long  lime,  and  struggling  with 
great  difficulties,  many  of  them  were  scattered — some,  but 
I  think  comparatively  few,  have  renounced  their  profession ; 
some  have  united  with  other  churches,  and  some  have  died 
in  the  faith,  and  none  in  triumph  to  heaven.  Causes  of 
decline — circumstances  above  referred  to — especially  my 
ill  health,  the  pecuniary  embarrassments  of  the  church, 
which  made  it  necessary  for  me  to  leave  home  for  six 
weeks,  soliciting  aid;  unwatchfulness  and  negligence  on 
the  part  of  the  members,  who  gradually  became  weary  in 
well  doing  ; — and  perhaps  1  ought  to  notice  another :  In 
preaching,  I  sometimes  took  too  much  pains  to  vindicate 
our  measures,  and  the  general  character  of  the  work — em- 
ploying time  in  refuting  captious  and  foolish  objections, 
which  had  been  far  better  employed  in  preaching  directly  to 
the  consciences  and  hearts  of  sinners.  My  present  views 
would  lead  me  to  disregard  such  things,  and  to  take  no 
public  notice  of  them  whatever. 

Some  of  the  fri/its  of  the  Revival : — Twelve  or  fifteen 
of  the  Sabbath  School  Teachers,  and  some  of  the  scholars 
made  a  profession  of  religion ;  the  character  of  the  school 
was  greatly  improved,  and  its  numbers  increased.  The 
young  converts  also  established  an  adult  free  school  which 
was  continued  for  a  number  of  years,  and  probably  ten  or 
fifteen  of  the  pupils  made  a  profession  of  religion.  It 
deserves  also  to  be  remarked  that  these  active  efforts  to  do 
good  tended  greatly  to  improve  the  religious  characters  of 
the  individuals  who  were  thus  employed.  The  last,  but 
not  the  least  of  these  fruits,  was  the  publication  of  the 
narrative  of  that  revival,  with  remarks  on  subjects  connect- 
ed with  revivals.  That  little  work  to  my  grateful  astonish- 
25* 


291  MEMOIR    OF 


On  tlit*  revival  in  Alexandria. 


ment  has  been  published  by  several  periodicals,  and  has 
gone  through  about  four  editions  in  pamphlet  form  in  this 
country  ;  parts  of  it  have  also  been  published  by  Dr.  Bur- 
dcr,  in  the  London  Evangelical  Magazine,  and  a  gentleman 
of  Scotland  wrote  to  a  member  of  my  church  for  permis- 
sion to  publish  it  there.  I  was  informed  by  a  minister  from 
the  western  part  of  the  state  of  New  York,  that  it  had  been 
the  means  of  producing"  several  revivals  to  his  knowledge — 
and  that  it  was  extensively  useful  in  that  section  of  the 
country  during  the  Revivals  which  occurred  there  a  few 
years  ago. 

The  first  revival  which  occurred  after  I  came  to  this 
place,  lasted  about  two  years,  during  which  time  nearly  all 
the  non-professors  attending  our  church,  and  many  others, 
amounting  to  about  two  hundred,  became  hopeful  subjects 
of  divine  grace.  The  same  general  system  of  nit-mis  was 
employed  as  had  been  most  blest  to  the  revival  in  Baltimore, 
omitting  and  guarding  against  such  things  as  I  had  found 
to  be  of  injurious  tendency.  At  our  prayer  meetings  I  often 
read  interesting  and  well  written  accounts  of  Revivals.  In 
my  preaching  and  weekly  addresses  to  the  church,  I  aimed 
to  impress  the  minds  of  Christians  with  their  responsibility 
in  relation  to  the  conversion  of  sinners,  to  lead  them  to 
mourn  over  past  deficiencies,  to  engage  in  the  work  of 
God  with  all  their  hearts,  to  believe  the  promises,  to  expect 
and  to  attempt  great  things — !  tried  also  to  show  them  that 
God  had  established  a  connection  between  the  prayers  of 
the  church  and  the  out-pouring  of  the  Spirit ,  and  with  a 
view  to  secure  a  greater  amount  of  prayer,  it  was  recom- 
mended that  each  member  of  the  Church  set  apart  some 
time  every  day  between  the  hours  of  one  and  three  o'clock 
to  be  employed  in  special  prayer  for  a  Revival  of  religion. 
We  also  had,  occasionally,  seasons  of  lasting  and  prayer, 
and  meetings  of  the  members  alone,  for  religious  conference- 
At  these  meetings  the  brethren  related  the  exercises  of 
their  minds,  and  they  were  uniformly  interesting  and  profit- 
able. Our  meetings  were  never  kept  into  a  late  hour.  I 
often  expressed  to  them  my  conviction  that  in  order  to  the 
permanency  of  the  work,  we  must  not  employ  any  means 
which  could  not  in  the  nature  of  things  be  sustained.  It 
was  a  great  object  with  me  to  make  the  prui/rr  meetings 
interesting.     In    order  to   this,   our   brethren  who  led   in 


WILLIAM     C,     WALTON.  295 


Way  of  concluding  meetings. 


prayer,  were  exhorted  to  pray  short  ami  to  the  point.  I 
also  labored,  by  secret  prayer,  before  going  to  the  meet- 
ings, to  get  my  heart  into  the  spirit  of  the  business;  but 
generally  made  no  other  preparation.  My  addresses  were 
divested  of  all  formality,  short — sometimes  one,  generally 
two,  during  a  meeting ;  never  aiming  to  say  every  thing 
that  mighl  be  said  upon  any  subject,  and  making  it  a  point 
to  be  silent,  unless  I  had  something  to  say.  The  interest 
of  these  meetings  was  much  heightened  by  selecting  appro- 
priate hymns  and  animating  tunes,  and  singing  one,  two, 
and  seldom  more  than  three  stanzas  at  a  time.  We  found 
it  very  important  that  no  part  of  the  exercises  should  appear 
to  flag.  1  tried  to  throw  my  heart  and  soul  into  them,  so 
far  as  1  was  concerned,  as  much  as  in  preaching  a  regular 
discourse,  and  generally  was  more  successful.  l>y  the  bles- 
sing of  God  upon  these  and  other  means,  there  wis  a  gradual 
increase  of  attention  and  feeling,  of  convictions  and  con- 
versions, so  that  at  the  close  of  the  first  year,  the  number  of 
communicants  in  the  church  was  just  doubled.  During 
the  next  six  months,  the  increase  was  more  rapid.  Our 
meetings  became  much  crowded,  and  there  were  generally 
fifteen  or  twenty  anxious,  while  conversions  were  takino- 
place  every  week.  When  dismissed  with  an  intimation 
that  any  who  desired  personal  conversation  might  remain, 
very  few,  and  sometimes  none  at  all  would  retire  :  so  that 
in  order  to  have  conversation  with  the  anxious,  I  was  under 
the  necessity  of  requesting  them  to  come  out  from  the 
crowd.  This  was  the  beginning  of  the  use  of  '  anxious 
seats,'  as  they  are  now  called — but  I  did  not  then  dream 
that  it  would  grow  into  a  system.  However  we  continued 
the  measure  until  the  first  four  days'  meeting,  and  thus  it 
became  associated  with  those  meetings. 

In  the  autumn  of  1828,  we  resolved  upon  holding  a  four 
days'  meeting,  and  inviting  ministers  from  a  distance  to  aid 
us.  We  had  heard  of  Presbyterian  camp  meetings  at  the 
south  and  west.  But  we  were  afraid  to  try  the  experiment 
of  such  meetings  ;  and  yet  we  wanted  something  to  answer 
a  similar  purpose  ;  some  plan  which  could  be  so  modified 
as  to  suit  city  congregations  as  well  as  those  in  the  country. 
The  plan  was  at  length  arranged,  the  time  appointed,  and 
ministerial    aid  secured.     Brother  Post   and  myself  agreed 


296  MEMOIR     OP 


Importance  of  ooneentrnted  effort. 


to  observe  a  dny  of  fasting  and  prayer  to  seek  the  divine 
blessing  upon  the  occasion,  besides  that  which  was  observ- 
ed bv  the  church  ;  for  we  felt  that  much  depended  upon  the 
result  of  the  experiment. 

For  three  weeks  before  the  meeting,  we  tried  to  prepare 
the  church  for  it,  by  urging  the  necessity  of  faith  and 
prayer,  and  putting  away  the  evil  of  their  doings  ;  especial- 
ly did  we  try  to  impress  the  conviction  upon  their  minds, 
that  the  most  gifted  ministers  in  the  land,  if  we  could 
assemble  them  all  on  that  occasion,  would  not  be  able  to 
convert  one  soul  without  the  Spirit  of  God,  which  accord- 
ing to  the  divine  arrangement  was  to  be  obtained  by  prayer. 
Nor  was  it  in  vain.  They  received  that  impression — they 
felt  the  truth;  and  so  much  of  the  spirit  of  prayer  I  had 
never  seen  ;  nor  so  much  actual  praying  in  the  same  length 
of  time.  The  ministers  prayed  often  together,  both  before 
and  after  public  service.  We  literally  gave  ourselves  to 
prayer,  and  to  the  ministry  of  the  word.  In  about  a  week 
there  were  thirty  hopeful  conversions.  But  here  we  fell 
into  an  error,  wnic'h  I  mention  that  others  may  guard 
against  a  similar  one.  The  brethren  who  had  come  from  a 
distance  went  over  to  Washington  city  and  commenced  ope- 
rations there.  The  attention  of  our  people  was  now  much 
directed  to  that  place,  and  we  felt  so  anxious  for  a  revival 
there,  and  prayed  so  much  for  that  object,  that  we  seemed 
to  forget  that  there  were  any  more  sinners  in  Alexandria  to 
be  converted.  Indeed  we  saw  very  few  remaining  among 
us  to  whom  we  cotdd  have  access.  For  several  weeks  after 
that  period  1  was  occasionally  absent,  attending  other  meet- 
ings of  the  same  kind,  and  thus  the  work  at  home  declined. 
These  narratives  furnish  answers  to  several  of  your  inqui- 
ries. I  shall  now  express  my  opinion  with  regard  toothers 
in  a  different  way. 

1.  In  addition  to  what  I  have  said  with  regard  to  '  the 
means  most  signally  blest '  in  promoting  revivals,  I  can  state 
that  in  a  select  male  prayer  meeting,  individuals  to  the  num- 
ber of  twenty  were  mentioned  as  subjects  of  special  prayer, 
and  nearly  all  these  have  been  added  to  the  church.  As  to 
the  character  of  the  preaching — it  has  been  a  clear  and 
forcible  exhibition  of  truth,  bringing  to  view  the  great 
principles  of  the  divine  government,  asserting  the  high 
claims  of  God,  showing  that  those  claims  are  not  to  be 
evaded   by  any  pretence  of  inability  ;  that  the  sinner  pos- 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  297 

Mode  of  presenting  the  truth. 

sesses  all  the  faculties  requisite  to  an  immediate  compli- 
ance with  the  terms  of  the  gospel,  and  pressing  the  obliga- 
tion harder  and  harder  until  the  sword  of  the  Spirit  goes 
through  hi  11  and  slays  him.  Much  pains  have  been  taken 
to  show  to  the  awakened  that  no  favorable  change  takes 
place  in  their  character  and  condition  until,  with  a  cordial 
renunciation  of  all  sin,  they  believe  in  Christ  and  surrender 
themselves  to  God,  unreservedly  to  do  and  submit  to  His 
will  ;  that  until  they  do  this,  they  retain  the  character  of 
rebels,  increasing  their  guilt  and  hardening  their  hearts  ; 
that  this  act  is  the  first  and  the  only  thing  that  brings  them 
within  the  scope  of  the  divine  promises,  and  secures  to 
them  the  saving  benefits  of  the  atonement,  and  those  influ- 
ences of  the  Holy  Spirit,  by  which  alone  they  can  overcome 
the  world,  the  flesh,  and  the  devil ;  also  to  explain  the 
nature  of  repentance  and  faith,  as  the  grand  conditions  of 
salvation;  that  they  are  not  arbitrary  conditions,  but  in 
the  nature  of  things,  indispensable;  the  glorious  character 
of  God  as  the  object  of  supreme  love  and  admiration,  and 
the  foundation  of  His  law;  especially  to  exhibit  the  love 
or  the  benevolence  of  God  towards  His  creatures,  and  to 
show  how  it  is  consistent  with  the threatenings  of  the  bible, 
and  with  the  future  punishment  of  the  wicked  ;  the  fullness 
of  grace  and  truth  in  Jesus  Christ ;  His  willingness  and 
His  ability  to  save  the  most  guilty,  now,  at  any  moment,  if 
they  will  trust  in  Him,  and  submit  to  Him  ;  also — to  explain 
in  the  most  intelligible  manner,  how  the  impenitent  sinner 
is  to  begin  to  be  a  Christian — what  the  first  step  is;  his 
obligation  to  take  that  step  immediately;  the  importance  of 
his  making  the  effort  without  waiting  for  a.  previous  process 
or  operation  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  by  which  he  may  be  enabled 
to  do  his  duty,  as  he  would  wait  for  a  surgeon  to  set  a 
broken  bone  or  to,  restore  a  dislocated  limb  before  he  could 
walk,  seeing  that  the  scripture  doctrine  of  divine  agency 
in  conversion,  was  never  intended  to  suspend  for  one  mo- 
ment the  obligation,  to  cease  to  do  evil  and  learn  to  do  well  ; 
and  farther  that  these  must  in  the  nature  of  the  case,  be 
voluntary  acts  of  the  sinner  himself.  If  they  are  not  his  acts, 
why,  he  is  not  converted — no  change  for  the  better  has 
taken  place  in  his  character.  So  far  as  my  experience  and 
observation  go,  I  can  say  these  views  appear  to  give  a  pecul- 
iar pungency  and  power  to  preaching.  I  would  moreover 
observe,  that  the  most  weighty  and  important  doctrines  of 


298  MEMOIR     OF 


-  IV  ol   ha\  tag  a  direct  aim. 


the  gospel  have  been  continually  discussed  in  the  plainest 
and  most  simple  manner,  so  that  all  may  understand  them 
and  see  their  reasonableness.  Religion  has  been  divested 
of  that  mysticism  which  has  often  obscured  its  true  charac- 
ter, and  it  has  been  made  to  appear  a  plain,  common  sense 
business.  Those  discourses  which  have  been  mosl  blessed 
have  been  delivered  from  skeletons,  sometimes  from  very 
scanty  note-,  oi  none  at  all — but  the  subject  was  well  stud- 
ied in  its  bearings  and  applications,  and  the  heart  was  so 
full  of  it,  that  the  elegancies  of  style  could  not  be  thought 
of  for  a  moment.  These  discourses  have  been  of  such  a 
character,  that  it  was  quite  a  common  thing  for  individuals 
to  think  they  were  pointed  out  by  the  preacher.  The  rea- 
son of  this  was  that  he  had  drawn  many  of  his  materials 
from  conversations  had  with  persons  of  different  characters, 
and  took  pains  to  exhibit  the  sentiments  they  had  expressed 
— often  in  their  own  words — in  the  light  of  scripture.  I 
would  here  remark  that  a  great  deal  has  appeared  to  depend 
upon  the  aim  of  the  preacher  while  delivering  his  message. 
It  is  possible  to  be  very  much  interested,  and  to  appear 
very  zealous  in  discussing  an  important  truth,  when  the  aim 
goes  no  farther  than  the  discussion,  the  mere  elucidation 
of  the  truth;  whereas  this  ought  to  be  always  subordinate 
to  tin  glory  of  (lotl  and  the  conversion  of  sinners — or  the 
edification  of  the  saints.  A  man  generally  accomplishes 
what  he  aims  at.  If  he  is  laboring  for  the  conviction  and 
conversion  of  sinners,  he  will  no  doubt  be  blessed  with  a 
measure  of  success.  If  it  be  otherwise,  a  result  will  be 
realized  generally  corresponding  with  his  aim.  To  con- 
clude what  I  have  to  say  on  this  subject,  I  have  observed 
that  any  truth  or  doctrine  has  appeared  to  be  blessed  when 
the  minister  preaches  with  a  heart  longing  for  the  salvation 
of  sinners,  and  yearning  over  them  in  the  bowels  of  Jesus 
Christ  ;  and  when  Christians  are  truly  engaged  in  prayer.* 
2.  When  the  state  of  things  will  justify  the  appointment 
of  an  anxious  or  inquiry  meeting,  it  will  be  found  a  power- 
ful instrument  of  promoting  a  revival.  Intelligent  men 
who  attended  our  meetings  of  this  description  remarked,  that 


*  Small  neighborhood  meetings  conducted  hy  the  brethren  in  different  parts  of  the 
town  have  been  uniformly  blessed.  The  sisters  have  sometimes  co-operated  by  vis- 
iting ia  those  neighborhoods,  and  exciting  attention  to  the  meetings. 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  299 

Effect  of  anxious  soats. 


they  obtained  clearer  and  more  simple  views  of  truth  and 
duty  there,  than  at  any  other  meetings. 

:}.  With  regard  to  the  propriety  of  using  such  technical 
terras  and  phrases,  as  anxious  seats,  anxious  meetings,  &c, 
I  think  it  best  to  avoid  them,  if  the  same  idea  can  be  well 
expressed  in  a  form  that  would  be  less  liable  to  objection. 

4.  "Praying  with  individuals  and  for  them."  The  Bible 
says,  "  Confess  your  sins  one  to  another,  and  pray  one  for 
another,"  &c.  I  see  no  reason  why  it  should  be  proper  to 
pray  for  a  Christian  who  confesses  his  sins,  and  not  for  one 
who  professes  a  desire  to  become  a  Christian,  and  cither 
by  words,  or  any  significant  act,  as  by  coming  to  the  anx- 
ious scat,  confesses  his  sins.  With  regard  to  another  part 
of  your  inquiry,  I  would  state,  thatl  have  seen  a  good  effect 
produced,  when,  in  prayer  meetings,  a  minister  has  given 
an  opportunity  to  any  who  desired  it,  to  request  the  prayers 
of  Christians  in  behalf  of  their  impenitent  relatives.  Such 
things  of  course  ought  to  be  well  timed. 

5.  '  Anxious  seats,'  &,c.  I  have  already  related  the  man- 
ner in  which  we  were  drawn  into  this  measure.  The  effect 
was  so  obviously  good  at  our  first  four  days'  meeting,  that  it 
was  employed  at  nearly  all  the  protracted  meetings  which 
followed  in  this  section  of  the  country.  In  Georgetown 
and  Washington  city,  in  Fredericksburg,  in  Richmond, 
and  so  far  as  I  have  heard,  in  various  parts  of  Virginia,  it 
has  been  attended  with  the  happiest  effect.  It  has  been  the 
means  of  bringing  to  an  immediate  decision  multitudes 
who  had  been  for  years  lingering  and  irresolute.  Some  of 
the  most  intelligent  professional  men  I  have  seen,  have 
come  forward  to  those  seats,  and  have  expressed  their  full 
conviction  of  their  great  utility.  It  has  a  happy  effect  upon 
christians  and  upon  ministers — when  the  anxious  come  for- 
ward, they  see  that  they  have  not  been  praying  and  labor- 
ing in  vain.  I  believe  it  has  been  the  means  of  leading 
Christians  and  ministers  in  their  prayers  and  preaching  to 
aim  at,  and  to  expect  present  results,  more  than  they 
ever  did  before.  If  so,  its  importance  cannot  be  too  highly 
estimated.  It  also  increases  the  uneasiness  of  others  who, 
do  not  feel  willing  as  yet  to  come  out  on  the  Lord's  side 
All  the  objections  which  sinners  make  to  this  measure,  so 
far  as  I  can  judge,  originate  in  pride,  and  an  unwillingness 
to  do  their  duty  now :  and  it  vexes  them  to  be  made  to  feel 


300  MEMOIR     OF 


Farther  remarks  on  them. 


this,  as  they  often  do  feel  it,  where  the  measure  is  judiciously 
and  successfully  employed.  But  why  should  it  he  objected 
to?  If  a  man  means  ever  to  become  11  Christian,  he  must 
confess  Christ  before  his  fellow  men  ;  and  why  not  do  it  in 
this  iniji  as  soon  as  possible  after  he  has  made  up  his  mind? 
And  surely  every  one  ought  to  make  up  his  mind  to  be  a 
Christian  as  soon  as  the  offer  of  the  gospel  is  made  to  him. 
If  a  man  has  been  doing  very  wrong  in  any  other  way, 
when  convinced  of  his  error,  it  is  right  that  he  should  con- 
fess it,  and  protest  against  it,  and  make  his  confession  and 
protest  as  public  as  his  crime  had  been.  If  I  have  sinned 
against  God  in  the  sight  of  heaven  and  earth,  it  is  right 
that  I  should  make  a  public  confession  in  some  way,  that 
all  may  see  that  I  condemn  the  part  I  have  acted,  and  that 
I  may  give  glory  to  God ;  and  the  sooner  I  make  it  the  bet- 
ter. Moreover  it  erects  a  barrier  to  prevent  a  return  of  the 
sinner  to  his  former  courses,  and  cuts  him  off  from  the 
society  and  influence  of  wicked  associates.  But  however 
these  things  may  be,  it  is  a  fact  that  a  great  majority,  I 
think  three-fourths  of  those  who  have  come  forward  to  the 
anxious  seats,  not  only  in  this  place,  but  in  the  Presbyterian 
churches  in  this  section  of  the  country,  have  become  mem- 
bers of  our  churches,  and  give  evidence  of  piety  ;  while 
not  a  solitary  case  has  come  to  my  knowledge  of  any  one 
becoming  a  Christian,  who,  when  this  measure  was  employ- 
ed, persisted  in  refusing  to  come  to  the  anxious  seat.  Part 
of  your  inquiry  relates  to  the  practice  of  urging  and  en- 
treating  sinners  to  come  forward  to  the  anxious  seat.  We 
certainly  cannot  be  too  urgent  with  them  to  take  a  decided 
stand.  God  is  urgent  on  this  subject ;  far  more  so  than 
we  are,  and  every  thing  in  the  nature  of  the  case  requires 
urgency  and  haste.  But  it  certainly  is  wrong  to  speak  of 
the  act  of  coming  forward  as  the  main  thing  we  are  aiming 
at,  or  as  a  step  which  in  itself  will  certainly  secure  their 
salvation.  As  to  calling  upon  them  to  rise  from  their  seats, 
it  may  possibly  under  some  circumstances  be  expedient; 
but  I  have  very  seldom  seen  it  tried.  Any  of  these  meas- 
ures if  not  well-timed  and  managed  judiciously,  may  do 
much  harm.  I  would  not  think  it  advisable  under  any  cir- 
cumstances to  invite  sinners  to  come  forward  to  the  anx- 
ious seits,  unless  it  were  pretty  certain  that  some  would 
come.  If  upon  conversing  with  professors  in  a  church,  at 
a  four  days'  meeting,  for  example,  I  found  that  some  had 


W  ILLI&H  C.   WALTON.  301 

Protracted  nicctinps 

given  up  their  hopes,  and  had  reason  to  believe  that  othen 
ought  to  <l<>  the  same,  1  would,  if  there  was  much  feeling 
;it  the  close  of  the  meeting,  call  upon  such  to  come  for- 
ward, expressing  repentance  for  their  past  inconsistencies, 
and  a  determination  to  live  to  God,  and  to  walk  with  him 
in  future.  If  a  church  has  declined  so  that  many  evils 
prevail  among  them  to  the  dishonor  of  religion,  I  should 
think  it  expedient  for  such  a  church  to  confess  their  sins 
publicly  and  to  renew  their  covenant.  I  tried  this  measure 
once  with  a  good  result. 

6.  '  Protracted  meetings.'  I  have  already  given  you  the 
history  of  the  first  meeting  of  this  description.  1  call  it 
the  first,  because,  although  Presbyterians  at  the  west  and 
south  had  held  what  they  called  four  days'  meetings,  they 
were,  if  I  have  been  correctly  informed,  camp  meetings. 
No  experiment  had  been  tried  in  any  of  the  cities  ;  nor 
had  the  plan  been  so  modified  as  to  suit  city  congregations. 
In  estimating  the  effects  of  our  first  meeting,  we  are  to 
consider  that  a  revival  had  been  in  progress  for  nearly 
eighteen  months,  and  that  most  of  the  non-professors  who 
attended  our  church  had  become  subjects  of  that  work. 
Under  these  circumstances,  thirty  conversions  in  about  a 
week,  were  very  considerable.  But  the  good  did  not  end 
here.  Some  of  our  professors  set  out  from  that  time  in  a 
new  career  of  usefulness.  We  are  reaping  the  fruits  to 
this  day  ;  and  I  have  no  doubt  they  will  continue  to  multi- 
ply. It  was  truly  a  season  of  refreshing  to  Christians,  and 
it  left  an  impression  so  delightful,  as  to  create  a  strong 
desire  for  another  occasion  of  a  similar  kind.  Many  Christ- 
ians from  Washington  city,  especially  from  the  first  Pres- 
byterian church,  attended  the  meeting,  who  returned  home 
with  views  and  feelings  such  as  they  had  never  had  before. 
Thus  they  were  prepared  for  a  similar  meeting  in  that  city, 
which  took  place  in  a  few  weeks  afterwards.  That  also 
was  attended  with  very  happy  results.  This  led  to  the 
appointment  of  one  in  the  Third  Presbyterian  church,  Balti- 
more, which  also  resulted  in  a  number  of  conversions. 
Since  that  period,  I  have  attended  many  in  different  places, 
most  of  which  were  in  cities  ;  and  never  have  I  seen  one 
pass  off  without  manifest  good;  and  the  amount  of  good 
has  always  appeared  to  correspond  with  the  degree  of 
preparation  on  the  part  of  the  church,  for  such  a  meeting, 
26 


302  MEMOIR     OF 


General  character  of  rc\  ivals. 


and  to  the  character  of  the  instruments  employed.  Some- 
times the  ministers  have  not  hern  as  wise  and  judicious  as 
they  might  have  been,  and  have  not  made  the  most  that 
might  have  been  made  of  such  occasions.  And  sometimes 
churches  are  not  prepared  to  co-operote — they  do  not  feel 
their  responsibility,  and  will  not  wake  up,  and  come  to  the 
help  of  tlio  Lord  against  the  mighty.  In  such  cases  not 
much  can  be  expected  from  the  use  of  any  means  whatever. 
In  estimating  the  effects  of  these  first  meetings,  we  are  to 
consider  the  impulse  and  direction  which  has  been  given 
by  them  to  public  sentiment  and  feeling  on  the  subject, 
throughout  the  land.  In  this  view,  t he  first  meeting  in 
Alexandria  may  be  regarded  as  constituting  an  era  in  the 
history  of  the  American  churches.  With  regard  to  the 
frequency  of  such  meetings,  1  am  entirely  of  Dr.  Woods' 
opinion,  that  they  ought  not  to  be  held  so  often  as  to  divest, 
them  of  the  character  of  extraordinary  means. 

7.  'General  character  of  revivals.'  Those  which  I  have 
witnessed  have  been  conducted  with  order  and  propriety, 
with  a  few  exceptions.  For  reasons  already  stated,  the  one 
in  Baltimore  was  more  faulty  in  this  respect  than  any  other, 
in  which  I  have  been  concerned.  I  did  not  then  know 
how  to  control  excitements,  and  I  was  afraid  to  interpose, 
less  I  should  do  wrong.  My  judgment,  however,  is  now 
established  on  the  subject,  and  whenever  animal  feeling 
rises  to  such  a  pitch  in  any  meeting  as  to  produce  confu- 
sion, or  to  unlit  the  minds  of  the  anxious  for  receiving  the 
triif/i  and  feeling  its  force,  I  have  no  hesitation  in  checking 
it,  and  the  plan  which  I  have  never  found  to  fail,  is  ten- 
derly to  admonish  them  that  truth  is  the.  only  instrument  of 
conviction  and  conversion,  and  that  animal  feeling  is  useful 
only  so  far  as  it  can  be  made  subservient  to  the  impression 
of  truth.  With  such  remarks  as  these,  I  call  upon  them  to 
engage  in  silent  prayer.  This  I  believe  is  a  sovereign  rem- 
edy for  the  evil.  The  general  character  of  our  meetings 
has  been  still  and  often,  deeply  solemn.  Convictions  have 
been  clear,  but  not  generally  in  the  highest  decree  distres- 
sing. In  some  instances  they  have  been  followed  with 
much  joy  ;  but  most  commonly  they  have  been  succeeded 
by  a  calm  repose — a  sweet  peace  connected  with  a  full 
determination  to  renounce  all  sin,  and  to  do  the  will  of 
God  without  reserve,  trusting  in  his  abundant  mercy  through 
Jesus  Christ.     Recently,  convictions  have  been  of  shorter 


WILLIAM    C  .    WALTON.  303 

Character  of  the  convert  . 

continuance  than  formerly.  The  duty  of  immediately  rm- 
bracing  the  gospel  offer,  is  more  clearly  understood  by 
Christiana  and  ministers;  and  it  is  more  insisted  upon ;  and 
greal  pains  arc  taken  to  show  that  there  is  no  reason  why 
the  sinner  should  wait  a  moment  in  bis  impenitence.  Min- 
isters dim  at  immediate  conversions  in  their  preaching,  and 
Christians  aim  at  the  same  object  in  their  prayers. 

8.  'Effects  of  revivals.'  One  has  been  an  increase  of 
liberality.  The  pecuniary  resources  of  the  church  have 
been  measurably  increased;  but  the  contributions  to  be- 
nevolent objects  have  increased  in  a  much  greater  propor- 
tion. All  our  Sabbath  school  teachers  have  become  hope- 
fully pious.  We  have  also  an  adult  female  free  school.  I 
mention  as  another  effect,  that  Christians  have  found  that 
entering  heartily  and  disinterestedly  into  the  work  of  the 
Lord,  is  one  of  the  best  means  of  growing  in  grace,  and  in 
the  knowledge  of  Christ;  and  of  securing  those  consola- 
tions which  are  so  abundantly  promised  in  the  gospel  ;  but 
which  are  realized  in  so  small  a  degree  by  many  Christians 
of  modern  times.  With  gratitude  to  the  God  of  all  grace, 
I  can  state,  that  we  have  instances  among  us  of  Christians 
whose  joys  are  often  unspeakable,  and  whose  hearts  are 
habitually  lifted  up  in  the  ways  of  the  Lord,  as  the  heart  of 
Jehoshaphat  was. 

9.  '  Character  of  the  converts,'  &x.  A  majority — I  was 
going  to  say  of  course — have  been  females;  but  a  larger 
proportion  than  usual  have  been  of  the  other  sex,  respecta- 
ble and  intelligent  men,  who  now  add  greatly  to  the  strength 
and  mora!  power  of  the  church.  They  are  ready  to  engage 
in  every  good  work,  and  undeniably  exert  a  happy  influence 
upon  all  the  best  interests  of  our  community.  In  one  instance 
this  influence  has  been  extended  to  a  neighboring  village, 
where  a  Revival  of  religion,  the  organization  of  a  new 
Presbyterian  church,  and  the  erection  of  a  new  house  of 
worship,  mainly  at  our  expense,  have  been  the  results. 

10.  '  Admitting  to  the  privileges  of  the  church.'  We 
have  been  very  cautious  on  this  subject — some  would  think 
too  much  so.  It  is  however  a  fact,  in  the  history  of  our 
church,  that  those  individuals  whom  we  have  put  upon  the 
longest  trial,  have  turned  out  badly — whereas  others  who 
were  received  shortly  after  they  professed  conversion,  have 
not  disappointed  our  expectations.     I  see  no  reason  why 


304  MEMOIR    OF 

Terms  »(  admission. 


we  should  not  come  back  to  the  apostolic  practice  on  this 
subject — unless  vye  do,  what  rule  have  we  to  guide  us? 

The  only  additional  remark  1  would  offer  on  this  subject 
is,  that  the  church  now,  as  in  the  Apostolic  times,  should 
demand  credible  evidence  of  piety.  Tins  may  be  furnished 
in  a  longer  ox  shorter  time,  according  to  the  circumstances 
and  character  of  the  converts  ;  but  when  it  is  given,  '  the 
gates  of  Zion'  should  be  'open'  to  receive  them.  The 
time  is  predicted  when  these  '  gates  shall  be  open  contin- 
ually,' doubtless  with  reference  to  the  accession  of  those 
converts  who  are  spoken  of  as  being  so  numerous  that  they 
are  compared  to  '  a  cloud,'  and  to  '  a  flowing  stream.9 

Thus,  dear  brother,  1  have  thrown  together  my  thoughts 
on  a  variety  of, subjects  to  which  your  inquires  relate  with- 
out observing  much  order,  and  without  those  scripture  proofs 
and  illustrations,  which  if  I  had  time  1  would  have  added. 
I  have  not  gone  through  the  list  of  your  interrogatories, 
but  perhaps  I  have  already  written  more  than  all  of  your 
committee  will  have  patience  to  read.  If  it  should  be 
desired,  I  may  at  some  future  day,  if  I  am  spared,  express 
to  you  my  views  on  other  topics  embraced  in  your  commu- 
nication. With  fraternal  regards  to  the  brethren  of  the 
Seminary,  and  especially  to  those  of  your  committee,  I 
remain  yours,  in  the  service  of  our  common  Lord, 

W.  C.  Walton." 

In  a  letter  from  the  Rev.  James  Patterson  of  Philadel- 
to  the  author,  he  says  of  the  subject  of  this  memoir  : 

*  *  *  "I  esteemed  him  one  of  the  most  valuable 
ministerial  correspondents  I  had.  In  the  fall  of  1828,  he 
wrote  me  a  letter  on  protracted  meetings;  and  wished  to 
know  if  I  would  assist  him,  if  he  would  hold  one  in  his 
church,  in  Alexandria,  D.  C,  where  he  then  lived.  The 
subject  was  not  entirely  new  to  me.  I  had  read  of  the 
protracted  meetings  in  Kentucky  and  other  Western  States, 
and  had  been  deeply  interested  in  them  ;  but  had  never 
witnessed  one,  and  knew  not  how  they  were  conducted,  or 
ought  to  be  conducted.     *     *     *• 

Brother  Walton  was  one  of  the  most  prudent,  humble, 
sincere  revival  men  I  ever  knew.  He  was  far  from  any 
thing  like  fanaticism  or  wildness,  both  in  his  physical  con- 


WILLIAM    C.    WALTON.  305 

Lettei  ni  Mr.  Patterson. 

stitution  ;iikI  in  his  ministerial  practice.  I  have  labored 
in  protracted  meetings  and  revivals  with  a  great  many  min- 
isters in  this  country  both  of  the  old  and  new  school;  hut. 
never  with  one,  I  think,  that  was  so  humble,  teachable  and 
child-like  ill  his  disposition  as  brother  Walton.  Jji  all  this 
be  was  indeed  a  lovely  man.      *      *      * 

There  were  a  number  of  cases  of  hopeful  conversion,  and 
the  church  was  very  considerably  quickened  and  waked  up, 
as  you  well  recollect,  dear  brother;  for  if]  remember  right, 
you  were  there.  And  you  recollect  with  what  fear,  and 
prayer  and  trembling  we  entered  on  the  work.  *  *  * 
I  had  never  seen  a  protracted  meeting  conducted.  But  I 
tried  to  look  to  God,  as  I  believe  we  all  did,  for  direction. 
And  I  believe  the  master  directed  us.  This  thought 
occurred  to  me,  and  I  announced  it  to  the  congregation: 
When  I  was  impenitent,  sometimes  after  hearing  an  awak- 
ening sermon,  I  felt  as  though  1  would  be  glad  to  have  some 
person  converse  with  me  about  my  soul  ere  I  left  the  church. 
And  now,  said  I,  there  may  be  tome  here  who  feel  as  I  used 
to  do,  and  at  this  moment  feel  as  though  they  would  be 
glad  to  be  conversed  with  about  their  soul's  salvation.  And 
if  there  be  any  of  that  class,  if  they  will  remain  behind  a 
little  after  the  benediction  is  pronounced,  we  will  converse 
with  them.  And  after  the  benediction  was  pronounced, 
the  whole  congregation  remained.  Nor  shall  I  forget  the 
solemn  situation  in  which  we  ministers  appeared.     *    *    * 

Thus  was  introduced  the  first  protracted  meeting,  for  we 
called  it  such  at  the  close,  that  was  held  east  of  the  Alle- 
ghany mountains.  A  few  weeks  after,  we  held,  by  request, 
another  protracted  meeting  in  Washington  City,  D.  C, 
which  also  was  attended  with  happy  fruits  both  to  the 
church  and  in  gathering  in  sinners.  Brother  Walton  was 
a  principal  agent  in  all  these  meetings.  He  was  a  good 
man,  and  God  used  him  for  great  g  >od  to  the  church  on 
earth.  He  has  labored  with  me  in  my  church  in  this  city, 
and  I  have  labored  with  him  in  his  church  in  Baltimore, 
when  he  was  a  settled  pastor  there,  and  I  have  labored  with 
him  frequently  at  Alexandria  while  there,  and  with  his 
church  at  Hartford,  Conn.,  while  he  was  there  ;  and  I  have 
never  labored  with  a  more  lowly,  humble,  devoted  man. 
And  I  never  before  felt  so  severely  the  loss,  by  death,  of  a 
beloved  laborer  in  the  ministry  as  I  did  his.  But  he  has 
26* 


300  MEMOIR     OF 


Study  of  mathematics. 


gone  to  his  rest,  and  we  must  not  murmur  nor  repine,  but 
rather  be  thankful  that  God  spared  him  so  long  to  the 
church. 

The  happy  days  J  have  spent  with  thai  man  in  ministerial 
labors  in  Washington,  Alexandria,  Baltimore,  and  Hartford, 
I  shall  never  forget  while  memory  holds  a  place  in  my 
being.  And  I  doubt  not  but  they  will  form  a  happy  theme 
for  our  mutual  converse  in  heaven,  if  1  ever  shall  reach 
that  place.  Never  before  in  the  death  of  any  other  minister 
did  I  feel  such  a  vacancy.  I  felt  for  a  while  as  though 
something  was  wanting  to  fill  up  my  ministerial  happiness 
here  on  earth.  I  know  no  brother  in  the  ministry  to  whom 
I  could  so  freely  open  all  my  mind.  J  had  learned  much 
through  that  brother  of  the  worth  of  prayer,  humble,  peni- 
tent, believing,  persevering  prayer.  This  alone,  if  nothing 
else,  was  worth  an  acquaintance  with  him."      *     *     * 

In  one  of  his  letters  in  the  former  part  of  this  volume,  he 
speaks  of  his  dislike  for  mathematical  studies.*  Like  many 
other  men  of  similar  distaste,  his  mind,  so  far  from  being 


*  "The  study  of  Mathematics,"  says  a  distinguished  German  metaphysician, 
"unless  special  precaution  be  taken,  is  ratlin  a  hindrance  than  an  aid.  For  in  so 
far  as  the  mathematician,  accustomed  to  Ids  own  mode  of  thinking,  and  Ignorantof 
any  other,  ap]  lies  or  does  not  apply  it  to  the  supersensible,  what  must  follow  1  In 
the  former  case,  the  supersensible  world  Is  denied,  mas ;h  as  it  cannot  be  mathe- 
matically demonstrated  ;  and  in  the  latter,  affirmed  only  on  the  ground  of  feeling  and 
Imagination." 

The  study  of  Mathematics,  :I  if  pursued  in  moderation,  and  efficiently  counteracted, 
may  be  beneficial  in  the  correction  ofa  certain  vice,  and  in  the  formation  of  its  cor- 
responding virtue.  The  vice  is  the  habit  of  mental  distraction  ;  the  virtue,  the  habit 
of  continuous  attention.  This  is  the  single  benefit  to  which  the  study  of  Mathemat- 
ics can  justly  pretend,  in  the  cultivation  of  Ibe  mind  ;  and  il  is  the  only  one  accorded 
to  it  by  the  most  intelligent  philosophers.  Baci  n,  who  in  his  earlier  writings,  had 
rashly  admitted  the  utility  of  Mathematics  in  sharpening  the  intellect,  significantly 
recalled  this  opinion  in  his  maturer  works  ;  and  instead  of  .Mathematics,  recommended 
a  study  of  the  school  philosophy  as  the  discipline  of  subtlety  and  discrimination." — 
Ed.  Review,  JVo.  136. 

The  rigidity  of  this  kind  of  demonstration  is  in  its  nature  fitted  to  shade  the  mind 
with  doubt  as  to  the  nature  ol  what  is  called  inferior  demonstration.  Hut  in  truth, 
the  great  plans  of  human  life,  the  business  of  the  world,  the  determining  choice  of 
moral  agents,  and  even  the  basis  of  the  reception  of  Divine  Revelation,  are  all  la'd  in 
moral,  not  mathematical  evidence.  Sufficient  attention  to  this  branch  of  science  has 
not,  till  recently,  been  given  in  our  American  Colleges.  The  rise  and  progress  of  the 
science  of  political  economy  have  much  elevated  the  science  of  moral  demonstration. 


WILLIAM    C.    AVAL  TON.  307 

Sourcea  of  sacred  eloquence. 

loose,  was  logical,  an<l  for  success  in  preaching  and  in  pri- 
vate expostulation,  he  relied  more,  so  far  as  means  were 
concerned,  on  the  power  of  cool  moral  demonstration  than 
on  that  of  impassioned  feeling.  But  he  fill,  deeply  felt, 
and  often  in  prayer  has  his  soul  been  in  an  agony  for  the 
souls  of  his  fellow  men.  It  was  not  in  vain.  Hundreds 
will  bless  God  that  he  was  born  into  the  world  and  that  he 
was  honored  with  the  ministry  of  reconciliation.  And  this, 
though  his  early  education  was  defective  and  his  means  of 
improvement  scanty.  No  theological  Seminaries  then  ex- 
isted— no  extensive  divinity  libraries — no  attrition  of  intel- 
lectual energies  contributed  to  polish  and  brighten  his  fac- 
ulties. They  were  scarcely  waked  up  till  he  had  for  some 
years  been  preaching.  Nor  was  he  at  any  time  distinguished 
for  pulpit  oratory.  On  the  general  subject  I  may  here  be 
indulged  in  a  few  remarks.  It  is  not  to  be  denied,  that 
independently  of  extraneous  circumstances,  there  are  sour- 
ces of  sacred  eloquence,  deep,  pure,  and  inexhaustible.  The 
character  of  God,  viewed  not  only  in  itself,  but  as  calling 
forth  from  innumerable  intelligent  creatures  the  most  sub- 
lime devotion — the  works  of  God — His  amazing  love — the 
work  of  redemption,  including  the  character,  actions,  and 
sufferings  of  the  Redeemer — the  destiny  of  man — the  Chris- 
tian conflict — the  progress  of  the  Church — her  bloodless 
triumphs — her  dignity  in  suffering — Death  and  the  Resur- 
rection— the  happiness  of  the  saints  for  eternity,  these  are 
among  the  high  themes  on  which  the  Ambassador  of  God 
is  called  to  d  'scant.  He  would  not  foro-et  the  astonishino- 
character  which  the  i'ounder  of  Christianity  impressed  on 
His  twelve  immediate  followers  and  the  apostle  "  born  out 
of  due  time."  Their  labors,  dangers,  and  sufferings — their 
heroic  devotedness — their  unblenching  steadiness  of  pur- 
pose— the  pure  benevolence  of  their  character,  practicing 
self-denial  for  the  good  of  the  world,  and  of  their  enemies — 
calmly  meeting  the  frowns  and  enduring  the  reproaches 
of  their  countrymen — breasting  with  holy  intrepidity  the 


308  MEMOIR    OF 


Why  Boinegreal  preachers  were  eloquent 


shock  of  every  convulsion,  which  was  sure  to  follow  the 
dissemination  of  their  sentiments,  bul  never  disobeying  the 
laws  of  the  land,  and  all  on  the  simple  principle  of  Faith, 
and  at  last  the  manner  of  their  dying — these  would  enter 
into  the  consideration  of  him  who  is  called  to  labor  in  the 
same  cause,  and  to  hold  forth  the  word  of  life  from  that 
consecrated  eminence  to  which  none  may  aspire  except 
those  that  are  'called  of  God.'  The  delineations  of  .history 
and  the  descriptions  of  prophecy,  as  contained  in  the  books 
of  the  Old  Testament,  furnish  the  most  abundant  materials 
for  the  exercise  of  genius  in  selecting  and  combining  such 
thoughts,  images,  sentiments,  and  truths,  as  are  befitting  the 
high  occasion  on  which  the  minister  of  Jesus  addresses  his 
fellow-men. 

Why  was  Apollos  an  eloquent  man  ?  Because  he  was 
mighty  in  the  Scriptures.  What  did  not  the  mind  of  Paul 
achieve,  imbued  as  it  was  from  his  youth  with  the  divine 
classics?  The  eloquence  of  Cyprian  and  Chrysostom,  of 
Claude  and  Fenelon,  where  was  it  fed  but  at  the  fountain 
'fast  by  the  Oracle  of  God?'  Never  had  the  spiritual  tri- 
umphs of  Baxter  and  Whitefield  been  recorded  on  earth  and 
in  heaven  but  for  the  days  and  nights  they  spent  at  the 
'  wells  of  salvation.'  'With  joy'  did  Summerricld  '  draw 
water'  thence,  and  with  skill  did  he  supply  those  who  were 
thirsty  in  Zion.  It  was  after  his  own  soul  was  refreshed 
by  the  word  of  God  that  he  was  able  to  renovate  the  strength 
of  the  faint  and  languishing.  And  he  might  be  said  some- 
times to  lead  the  Christian  soul  an  eagle  flight  toward 
heaven,  where  he  could  gaze  on  the  glories  of  God  and 
rejoice  in  the  beams  of  infinite  mercy  and  love.  The  Bible 
was  his  constant  companion.  With  him  it  was  the  book  of 
books,  and  it  would  not  be  hyperbolical  to  say  that  he 
could  not  preach  a  sermon  without  discovering  the  intimacy 
between  that  volume  and  his  soul.  Whoever  has  read  the 
sermons  of  Jay  has  observed  the  enviable  art  and  facility 
with  which  that  useful  and  instructive  writer   interweaves 


WILLIAM     C .     WALTON.  309 


Walton's  hospitality.  Dj  lug  request  of  Dr.  Hyde. 

scripture  passages  with  the  thread  of  his  discourse.  Less 
sought  by  Summerfield,  they  seemed  to  present  themselves 
to  him  just  at  the  time  and  place  in  his  extemporaneous 
discourse  where  they  were  the  most  Deeded,  and  the  most 
appropriate,  instructive*,  and  pleasing.  It  was  a  second  lan- 
guage to  him,  and  he  spoke  it  with  fluency,  propriety,  and 
effect. 

Walton  entered  deeply  into  the  spirit  of  the  Scriptures, 
though  the  words  were  not  extensively  engrafted  on  his 
memory.  His  unaffected  simplicity  and  undisguised  sin- 
cerity were  apparent  to  all.  He  has  furnished  another 
instance,  to  be  contemplated  by  the  church  and  the  world, 
of  how  much  good  may  be  done  by  the  energetic  and  untir- 
ing activity  of  one  who  is  possessed  of  respectable  talents, 
a  warm  heart  and  a  steady  consistent  piety. 

His  house,  as  has  before  been  hinted,  was  the  seat  of 
hospitality.  The  stranger  that  came  to  his  dwelling  was 
received,  not  with  cold  civility  ;  not  with  an  air  that  seemed 
to  say,  /  am  now  going  to  condescend  to  confer  a  favor,  or 
/  will  reluctantly  i  ntcrtain  you  ;  but  with  a  '  warmhearted ' 
welcome  ;  such  as  Paul  enjoined  on  the  ministers  of  Christ, 
and  such  as  he  commended  in  every  hospitable  Christian. 
There  is  something  in  treatment  like  this,  which  with  equal 
promptitude  wins  its  way  to  the  heart  of  a  stranger,  and 
enlarges  the  influence  of  his  host  over  him.  Dr.  Hyde,  of 
Lee,  was  such  a  man,  and  the  beautiful  trait  was  so  inter- 
woven with  his  character — the  feeling  of  kindness  towards 
his  brethren  in  the  ministry  was  so  habitual,  that  when 
dying,  he  charged  his  son  :  "  This  house  has  been  a  house 
of  prayer  for  forty  years.  Let  it  be  a  house  of  prayer  still. 
You  will  have  many  calls.  Let  it  be  a  house  of  Christian 
hospitality.  Be  a  friend  to  Christ  and  his  people.  This 
is  the  counsel  of  your  dying  father."  A  brother,  who  had 
often  been  welcomed  by  his  benevolent  smile,  and  had 
shared  his  cheerful  bounty,  giving  vent  to  his  feelings  in  a 


310  MEMOIR    OF 


Archbishop  Usher. 


strain  of  elegiac  poetry,  said  : 

'•  Mis  bouse,  111*'  home 

Of  Zion's  i'i  ii  nils  ;iml  mine,  thrice  hallowed  place  ! 
Full  many  an  anxious  care  has  Bed  this  heart, 

T set,  at  thai  dear  threshold,  smiles  oflove, 

That  voice  of  salutation  kind.    Full  well 
1  loved  t<>  >haic  a  place  amid  the  band 
Domestic,  at  the  hour  of  prayer  and  praise, 
A  sacred  noui  of  reverence,  peace  and  love  !  " 

Brother  Nevins,  for  so  has  the  author  had  the  privilege 
of  calling  him  for  many  years,  was  so  situated  in  the  very 
centre  of  Baltimore,  as  to  he  exposed  to  many  calls.  In 
the  earlier  part  of  his  ministry,  he  suffered  himself  some- 
times to  he  annoyed  by  them.  But  more  than  eight  yr  IM 
ago,  he  said  to  me  :  "Brother  Dan  forth,  I  hare  a  opted 
in  full  the  maxim  of  that  gorily  minister  who  said,  '  The  man 
that  wants  me  is  the  man  that  J  want.'  "  He  could  then 
hear  his  parlor  bell  ring  with  an  unruffled  mind. 

It  is  said  of  Archbishop  Usher,  that  when  wrecked  on  a 
desolate  coast,  and  reduced  to  a  pitiable  condition,  he 
applied  to  a  clergyman  of  a  cold  and  inhospitable  mind  for 
shelter  and  relief,  stating  his  sacred  profession.  The  cler- 
gyman rudely  questioned  the  fact,  and  peevishly  replied  that 
he  doubted  whether  lie  even  knew  the  number  of  the  com- 
mandments. "Indeed  I  do,"  replied  Usher  mildly  ;  "  there 
are  eleven."  "  Eleven  !  "  rejoined  the  catechist,  "  tell  me 
the  eleventh,  and  1  will  assist  you."  "  Obey  the  eleventh," 
said  Usher,  "  and  you  certainly  will  assist  me.  Anew  com- 
mandment I  give  you,  that  ye  love  one  another." 

In  every  situation  in  life,  Walton  diligently  endeavored 
and  ardently  delighted  to  obey  the  eleventh  commandment. 
Nor  would  he  wait  for  ministerial  brethren  to  come  to  his 
house.  If  he  knew  or  suspected  any  of  them  to  be  in  the 
city  of  his  residence,  he  would  seek  them  out  and  find  them 
for  his  Master's  sake. 

Though  a  man  of  great  apparent  mental  tranquility,  he 
was  keenly  sensitive  to  any  injury,  or  a  trial  of  any  kind. 


WILLIAM     C.     WALTON.  311 

Cotton  Mather's  itnintolligibles  and  incurables.  Silence  about  Mistrials. 

Amid  the  inevitable  vexations  to  which  ministers  are  liable, 
and  of  which  a  full  share  fell  to  his  lot,  he  needed  often  to 
consider  the  advice  of  Cotton  Mather  to  his  son  :  "  It  may 
not  be  amiss  for  you  to  have  two  heaps  ;  a  heap  of  unintel- 
ligible*, and  a  heap  of  incurables.  Every  now  and  then 
you  will  meet  with  something  or  other,  that  may  pretty 
much  disturb  your  thoughts;  but  the  shortest  way  with  the 
vexatious  will  be  to  throw  them  into  the  heap  they  belong 
to,  and  be  no  more  distressed  about  them.  You  will  meet 
with  some  unaccountable  and  incomprehensible  things, 
particularly  in  the  conduct  of  many  people.  Throw  these 
into  the  heap  of  unintelligibles.  Leave  them  there.  Trouble 
your  mind  no  further.  Hope  the  best,  or  think  no  more 
about  them.  You  will  meet  with  some  unpersuadable  peo- 
ple. No  counsel,  no  reason  will  do  any  thing  upon  the 
obstinate,  especially  as  to  the  making  of  due  submission 
upon  offences.  Throw  them  into  the  heap  of  incurables. 
Let  not  the  crooked  things  that  cannot  be  made  straight 
incumber  you." 

But  Walton  talked  little  of  his  trials.  He  must  hare 
borne  them  in  silent  submission,  for  though  intimate  with 
him,  the  writer  knew  absolutely  nothing  of  some  of  the 
most  severe  of  them,  till  the  pages  of  his  private  journal 
were  unveiled  to  his  eye.  Those  trials,  however,  are  past. 
He  shall  sin  no  more.  He  shall  suffer  no  more.  They 
were  a  part  of  the  necessary  moral  discipline  instituted  by 
his  heavenly  Father,  to  train  his  beloved  child  for  useful- 
ness here  and  glory  hereafter. 

It  is  indeed  a  great  thing  for  a  fallen  creature  to  become 
holy.  "  I  must  tell  you,"  said  the  dying  Usher  to  a  friend, 
"we  do  not  well  understand  what  sanctification  and  the 
new  creature  are.  It  is  no  less  than  for  a  man  to  be  brought 
to  an  entire  resignation  of  his  own  to  the  will  of  God,  and 
to  live  in  the  offering  up  of  his  soul  continually  in  the  flames 
of  love,  as  a  whole  burnt  offering  to  Christ.     And  oh  !  how 


312  MEMOIR     OF 


The  conclusion  of  a  pious  mid  devoted  life.  Thomas  Ilalyburton. 

many,  who  profess  Christianity,  are  unacquainted  experi- 
mentally with  this  great  work  upon  their  souls!  " 

The  reader  of  this  narrative  has  observed  the  gradual 
development  of  the  mind  and  the  Christian  character  of 
William  C.  Walton.  From  a  small  and  treble  beginning, 
he  went  on  by  a  progressive  movement  both  in  knowledge 
and  piety,  until  he  attained  to  the  sublime  triumph  of  that 
death-bed  which  has  already  been  described,  and  which  is 
seldom  surpassed.  When  such  a  scene  closes  a  life  of 
ardent  and  consistent  piety,  it  is  more  worthy  to  be  com- 
memorated than  those  fitful  transports,  which  sometimes 
break  out  on  dying  beds,  that  have  been  preceded  by  a  life 
of  sin.  The  one  is  like  an  evening  of  gorgeous  splendor, 
closing  a  day  of  clear  and  steady  sunshine.  The  other 
may  be  compared  to  the  same  evening  suddenly  illuminated 
with  electric  fires,  after  a  day  darkened  by  clouds  and  op- 
pressed with  winds. 

The  de  ith-bed  of  Thomas  II  ilyburton  has  been  cele- 
brated as  one  of  the  most  illustrious  recorded  instances  of 
victorious  grace.  But  he  was  ever  a  giant  in  conflict  with 
opposing  principalities  and  powers.  His  soul  burned  within 
him  for  the  welfare  of  Zion,  when  he  said  with  his  falter- 
ing lips,  "Oh  to  have  God  returning  to  his  church  and  his 
work  goin^i"  forward  in  the  world!  If  all  the  drops  of  my 
blood,  all  the  particles  of  my  body,  all  the  hairs  of  my  head, 
were  men,  they  should  for  this  all  go  to  the  fire.  I  could 
not  have  believed  that  I  should  bear,  and  bear  cheerfully 
this  rod,  which  has  lain  on  me  so  long.  This  is  a  miracle. 
Pain  without  pain  !  Oh  !  blessed  be  God  that  ever  I  was 
born!  I  have  a  father,  a  mother,  and  ten  brethren  and  sis- 
ters in  heaven,  and  1  shall  be  the  eleventh.  It  is  the  Spirit 
of  God  that  supports  me.  What  cannot  grace  do?  What 
a  demonstration  hath  God  given  to  you  and  myself  of  the 
immortality  of  the  soul,  by  the  vigor  of  my  intellect,  and 
the  lively  efforts  of  my  spirit  toward  God  and  the  things  of 
God,  now  when  my  body  is  so  low  and  pained !     When  I 


WILLIAM     C.     WALTON.  313 


Cnnrtiirling  remark. 


shall  be  so  weakened  as  not  to  be  able  to  speak,  I  will  give 
you,  if  I  can,  a  sign  of  triumph  when  I  am  near  to  glory." 
That  sign  was  given  after  he  had  ceased  to  speak,  and  he 
soon  ceased  to  breathe !  It  is  well  when  the  leaders  in  the 
spiritual  army  close  the  mighty  contest  on  their  part  in  so 
glorious  a  manner. 

So  closed  the  life  of  our  beloved  friend.  Though  dead, 
he  still  lives;  though  silent  he  speaks;  and  may  this  me- 
morial cheer  some  pious  heart,  when  the  hand  that  has  pre- 
pared it  is  mouldering  in  the  dust ! 

{KT  "  W.  C.  Walton  "  is  erroneously  signed  to  the  letter  on  page  186. 


27 


APPENDIX 


The  letter  which  follows  is  referred  to  in  page  179  of  this 
volume. 

Washington,  Oct.  15,  1828. 
"  Dear  Sir, 

I  lately  enjoyed  the  pleasure  of  spending  a  couple  of 
days  at  Alexandria,  and  take  thcliherty  of  giving  you  some 
account  of  them,  that  you  may  share  in  the  satisfaction 
which  such  scenes  must  ever  convey  to  a  Christian  mind. 
I  went,  in  consequence  of  an  affectionate  invitation  extend- 
ed by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Walton,  and  the  church  under  his  care, 
to  their  brethren  in  Washington,  to  attend  the  approaching 
communion  in  that  Church.  There  had  existed*  at  Alex- 
andria a  gentle  religious  excitement  for  some  months  past. 
It  had  been  gradually  increasing,  until,  under  the  expecta- 
tion of  adding  between  twenty  and  thirty  persons  to  that 
church  at  the  next  celebration  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  it  was 
resolved  to  have,  on  that  occasion,  a  continuance  of  public 
service  for  four  successive  days,  commencing  on  Friday, 
and  closing  on  the  Monday  following.  This  practice  has 
been  adopted  elsewhere;  and  though  ridiculed  by  some, 
as  a  sort  of  Presbyterian  camp-meeting,  it  has  been  found 
productive  of  such  happy  effects,  that  those  who  have  once 
made  the  experiment,  will,  I  believe,  be  inclined  to  repeat 
it.  I  could  not  get  there  before  Sabbath  morning  ;  but  the 
sweet  enjoyment  I  then  experienced  made  me  regret  that  I 


APPENDIX.  315 

had  lost  the  preceding  days.  I  had  frequently  road  of  the 
communion  seasons  in  Scotland,  where  Christiana  assemble 
from  several  adjacent  or  neighboring  congregations,  and 
spend  four  days  in  the  services  preparatory  and  subsequent 
to  what  is  there  called  "the  action  sermon;"  hut  1  had 
never,  till  now,  witnessed  any  thing  of  the  kind. 

The  morning  was  fine,  and  the  appearance  of  all  things 
around  hore  that  aspect  of  serenity  and  peace  which  is  so 
finely  described  in  the  poem  of  the  Sabbath.  My  friend 
and  I  rose  early  that  we  might  enjoy  the  luxury  of  a 
leisurely  and  solitary  walk,  while  Nature  breathes  her  sweet- 
est incense,  and  oilers  in  silent  but  impressive  worship,  her 
tribute  of  praise.  Our  hearts  were  in  unison  with  the 
scene,  and  felt  the  perfect  harmony  which  ever  exists 
between  the  voice  of  nature  and  that  of  revelation.  We 
entered  Alexandria  about  breakfast  time,  and  soon  after 
repaired  to  Mr.  Walton's  church.  It  is  a  large  building  of 
considerable  depth  in  proportion  to  its  width ;  the  pulpit  is 
at  the  end,  but  the  preacher  may  be  heard  without  difficulty 
even  at  the  opposite  extremity.  Though  it  was  some  time 
before  the  stated  hour  of  worship,  the  pews  were  filling  fast, 
and  an  aspect  of  general  interest  and  solemnity  appeared 
on  the  countenances  of  most  of  those  who  were  present. 
This  early  attendance  is  a  very  common  feature  attending 
religious  revivals.  The  place  of  worship  is  associated  with 
so  many  sweet  and  solemn  recollections,  that  the  people 
seem  reluctant  to  leave  it.  They  approach  with  willing 
feet,  and  every  step  by  which  they  leave  it,  seems  a  step 
downward  toward  the  world.  It  is  at  such  seasons  that  we 
can  enter  into  the  feelings  of  the  disciples  when  they  pro- 
posed to  build  tabernacles  on  the  mount  of  transfiguration. 
While  tasting  the  sweetness  and  sublime  joy  of  true  wor- 
ship, the  soul  finds  itself  in  possession  of  its  satisfying  good, 
and  cannot  entertain  the  thought  of  relinquishing  it  but 
with  pain. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  P and  the  Rev.  Mr.  D ,  from 

Philadelphia,  were  present,  having  come  on  by  request  of 
Mr.  Walton,  for  the  express  purpose  of  assisting  on  this 
solemn  occasion,  the  one  preaching  in  the  morning,  the 
other  in  the  evening  of  each  day.  If  you  never  heard  Mr. 
P.  you  can  form  but  an  imperfect  idea  of  the  force  and 
originality  of  his  style  and  manner,  and  its  effect  in  impres- 


316  APPENDIX. 

sing  an  audience.  Regardless  of  the  niceties  of  rhetoric, 
his  elocution  is  bold,  ardent,  solemn,  full  of  the  conviction 
that  it  handles  a  matter  of  life  and  death,  and  resolutely  set 
on  carrying  that  same  conviction  to  the  heart  and  conscience 
of  every  hearer.  In  this  it  effectually  succeeds.  Whatever 
men  may  think  of  the  message,  none  can  doubt  that  the 
preacher  believes  and  feels  it  to  be  a  message  from  God. 
His  voice  is  full  of  depth  and  power  ;  tears  flow  abundantly, 
without  interrupting  its  effect ;  and  though  his  gesture  is 
without  grace,  it  is  full  of  the  impassioned  earnestness  of 
the  man.  His  illustrations  are  of  the  most  familiar  kind, 
but  all  striking  and  apposite,  calculated  for  the  level  of  the 
commonest  capacity,  and  yet  such  as  to  be  heard  with 
pleasure  by  the  strongest  mind.  I  take  him  to  be  much 
such  a  preacher  as  Rowland  Hill,  judging  from  the  des- 
criptions I  have  received  from  the  latter.  His  subject  was 
the  Marriage  Supper ;  and  by  adapting  the  parable  to  the 
circumstances  of  our  own  country,  he  gave  it  double  inter- 
est. He  compared  it  to  a  marriage  published  by  the  Presi- 
dent, to  honor  his  son,  and  ran  out  all  the  circumstances 
in  a  manner  calculated  to  rivet  it  forever  on  the  memory. 

The  exercises  at  the  Table  were,  as  they  should  ever  be, 
short  and  simple.  It  is  a  feast  for  the  heart ;  and  the  lan- 
guage of  the  heart  is  always  simple  and  direct.  The  num- 
ber of  communicants,  resident  and  attending  from  else- 
where, was  large,  and  filled  nearly  one-third  of  the  build- 
ing, though  very  closely  seated.  The  time  occupied  in  dis- 
tributing the  elements  was  therefore  very  considerable,  but 
to  me  it  was  the  most  eloquent  and  impressive  portion  of 
the  hour.  Many  a  bosom  heaved  with  emotion — many, 
very  many,  tears  were  shed,  and  now  and  then  a  deep-fetch- 
ed sigh  broke  on  the  solemn  stillness  of  the  assembly;  but 
all  was  order  and  chastened  sobriety ;  nor  could  the  most 
fastidious  have  discovered  aught  of  the  dreaded  confusion 
of  revivals.  It  was  a  scene  for  angels  to  contemplate,  and 
I  doubt  not  they  were  there.  The  services  of  the  remaining 
parts  of  the  day  were  of  the  same  general  character. 

The  only  departure  from  what  I  have  been  accustomed 
to  see,  took  place  after  the  close  of  the  evening  sermon. 
The  pastor  then  descended,  and  placing  himself  in  the 
clerk's  desk,  briefly  addressed  the  audience  ;  and  after  a  few 
moments  of  solemn  exhortation,  invited  those  of  his  hear- 


APPENDIX.  317 

ers  who  felt  their  minds  seriously  impressed  with  what  had 
been  delivered,  and  who  desired  the  prayers  of  Christians 
in  their  behalf,  or  wished  to  be  conversed  with  on  the  con- 
cerns of  their  souls,  to  manifest  it  by  coming  forward  and 
taking  their  seats  near  the  pulpit  during  the  singing  of  a 
few  verses  of  a  hymn.  And  now  commenced  a  scene 
which  was  full  of  interest,  whether  contemplated  by  a  Christ- 
ian, a  philosopher,  or  a  physiognomist.  Many  in  the  con- 
gregation were  under  deep  concern  of  mind  ;  and  as  the 
eye  glanced  over  the  assembly,  they  could  readily  be  recog- 
nized. Some  were  drowned  in  tears;  others  drew  sighs  of 
the  bitterest  anguish;  others  were  wrestling  down  the 
expression  of  their  feelings,  but  discovered  their  agitation 
by  a  feverish  restlessness ;  others  changed  color,  and  the 
expression  of  their  countenances  passed  through  a  quick 
succession  of  the  most  striking  alterations.  A  few  tried  to 
smile,  or  to  sneer,  but  the  tear  that  trembled  in  their  eye 
betrayed  the  heart,  and  mocked  their  efforts.  When  it 
was  discovered  that  all  had  presented  themselves  who  pur- 
posed to  do  so,  the  ministers  went  round  from  seat  to  seat 
and  conversed,  in  a  low  tone  of  voice,  with  each  for  a  few 
minutes,  after  which  they  engaged  in  very  earnest  and  affec- 
tionate prayer. 

In  all  this  I  see  nothing  which  can  justly  be  censured. 
To  call  it  fanaticism,  and  Methodism,  and  delusion,  is  but 
the  cant  of  men  who  hate  all  earnestness  in  religion,  and 
comfort  themselves  over  their  own  indifference  by  laughing 
at  others.  When  the  Apostles  preached,  those  who  embra- 
ced their  message  '  companied  with  them,' — manifested 
openly  on  what  side  they  wished  to  be  considered  :  and 
why  should  those  who  now  wish  to  follow  their  Master  ob- 
ject to  avowing  it  before  all  men  ?  Did  not  Paul  himself 
earnestly  entreat  an  interest  in  the  prayers  of  the  churches? 
and  where  there  v  ^re  many  opposers,  is  it  not  written  that 
he  'separated  the  disciples  V  I  had  been,  I  confess,  great- 
ly prejudiced  against  this  proceeding  from  some  descrip- 
tions I  had  received  of  it ;  but  as  soon  as  I  had  witnessed 
the  scene,  I  was  constrained  to  own  that  its  effect  was  emi- 
nently, irresistibly,  and,  as  I  am  persuaded,  profitably  im- 
pressive. 

The  next  morning  a  prayer-meeting  was  held  at  sunrise. 
I  attended  early,  but  found  that  others  had  anticipated  me, 


318  APPENDIX. 

and  were  already  in  their  seats,  waiting  in  profound  silence, 
and  the  most  of  them  in  tears.  The  prayers  were  offered 
by  members  of  the  church,  two  of  them  praying  in  imme- 
diate, succession,  without  rising  :  the  exercises  were  alter- 
nated by  sinking,  and  then  by  short,  pungent  exhortations 
from  the  ministers  who  attended. 

At  10  o'clock  a  sermon  was  preached,  at  which  females 
were  specially  invited  :  and  their  duty,  as  the  guardians  of 
society  while  in  infancy,  was  stated  and  urged  in  a  manner 
which  produced  the  deepest  effect.  Entire  families  attend- 
ed, and  I  saw  many  a  well  dressed  and  polite  lady,  sur- 
rounded by  her  children,  bowing  her  head  in  deep  apparent 
contrition,  under  the  conscious  neglect  of  this  most  sacred 
of  duties.  This  was  '  the  last  day  of  the  feast ; '  (and  a  feast 
the  occasion  might  justly  be  called  :)  and  after  a  repetition  of 
the  scene  of  the  last  evening,  by  inviting  such  as  felt  con- 
vinced of  neglect  and  resolved  to  seek  grace  to  be  more 
faithful,  to  come  forth  and  avow  their  determination  and 
receive  the  prayers  of  the  church,  the  exercises  were  closed 
with  solemn  prayer  and  thanksgiving."       *       *       * 

P.  108.  The  following  are  the  concluding  remarks  of 
his  Narrative  : 

"  My  object  in  writing  this  piece,  has  not  been  chiefly 
to  give  a  narrative  of  a  revival  ;  but  to  promote  the  spirit 
of  revival ;  to  excite  my  fellow  christians  to  a  more  faithful 
discharge  of  their  duties  ;  and  to  offer  such  suggestions  as 
may  assist  those  who  are  conscious  of  having  neglected 
their  duty,  in  determining  what  they  ought  now  to  do. 

Another  object  I  have  had  in  view,  is  to  furnish  a  tract, 
which  may  with  advantage  be  distributed  in  a  congregation 
during  the  progress  of  a  revival,  especially  where  incor- 
rect views  are  entertained  respecting  some  points  here  dis- 
cussed. At  such  times,  it  is  very  important  that  all  should 
"  speak  the  same  thing."  Even  pious  persons  may  unin- 
tentionally do  injury,  by  giving  to  inquirers,  injudicious 
directions.  It  is  presumed,  that  such  persons  will  thank- 
fully receive  any  instructions  that  may  assist  them  in  per- 
forming this  momentous  duty.  Besides — it  may  often  hap- 
pen in  revivals,  that  so  many  will  be  in  an  anxious  state  of 
mind,  that  the  minister  cannot  pay  the  necessary  attention 
to  all.     It  might,  therefore,  be  a  relief  to  his  mind,  and  an 


APPENDIX.  319 

advantage  to  his  people,  to  put  into  their  hands  such  a 
pamphlet  as  this,  containing  the  same  general  views  of 
doctrine,  and  the  same  directions  which  he  would  give 
them,  if  he  could  converse  with  each  separately.  They 
who  hold  opinions  different  from  those  here  maintained, 
will,  of  course,  pursue  a  different  plan.  If  any  of  my 
young  brethren  in  the  ministry,  think  my  censures  fall  too 
heavily  upon  them,  I  can  only  say,  my  aim  is  to  do  them 
good,  and  to  promote  the  cause  of  my  Saviour.  I  censure 
none  so  severely  as  I  censure  myself.  I  mourn  hefore  God, 
to  think  of  my  past  unfaithfulness;  while  I  bless  His  name 
for  the  desire  I  now  feel  to  live  henceforth  to  his  glory  ; 
and  I  shall  rejoice,  if  what  I  have  said  should,  under  the 
Divine  blessing,  which  I  earnestly  implore,  be  the  means 
of  guarding  any  against  that  negligent,  indifferent,  heart- 
less manner  of  performing  the  momentous  duties  of  the 
ministry,  which  has  caused  me  so  many  painful  feelings  of 
regret  and  sell-dissatisfaction. 
Baltimore,  March  1834. 


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